Under either method, Medicare will cover and pay for the cataract removal and insertion of a conventional intraocular lens.
For an advanced technology lens, which corrects astigmatism, there's usually an additional $500 or $1,000 cost per eye. For a multifocal lens, there are extra costs ranging from $1,500 to $4,000; however, costs can fall outside of those ranges as well.
These are not covered by Medicare, as they are not considered medically necessary. As a patient, you can ask for bladeless cataract surgery and multifocal lenses if you want, but it is important to know that Medicare and your secondary insurance are not as likely to cover these costs.
Monofocal lenses
The most common type of intraocular lens is a monofocal lens. Typically covered by insurance, the lens offers one focusing distance, meaning it can either best focus at distance, intermediate or close up.
If someone has an ocular comorbidity in either eye (eg, severe dry eye disease, irregular astigmatism, epiretinal membranes, macular degeneration), he or she is not eligible for a multifocal IOL. In my practice, this means that 50% of patients are ineligible.
Existing systematic reviews have generally concluded that multifocal IOLs result in better uncorrected near vision and greater spectacle independence, but more unwanted visual phenomena such as glare and halos, compared to monofocal IOLs.
Disadvantages of Multifocal Lenses
While multifocal lenses improve near, far, and intermediate vision, many people still have difficulty seeing up close. Although they can see the computer screen, their vision is blurry when trying to read a book. However, this can be corrected with reading glasses.
Multifocal IOLs are ideal for patients with cataracts and are best implanted during laser cataract surgery to ensure proper placement for the best results. To be a candidate for multifocal IOLs, your eye specialist may require choosing a laser procedure for your cataract surgery.
Laser-assisted cataract surgery is the latest and most advanced method of performing cataract surgery. And many ophthalmologists prefer laser cataract surgery over traditional cataract surgery as a pre-treatment to “soften” cataracts.
Summary: A new study suggests that older adults who wear multifocal contact lenses to correct problems with near vision, a very common condition that increases with age, may have greater difficulty driving at night than their counterparts who wear glasses.
It's important to contact your plan directly for answers to your questions. Original Medicare will cover only the cost of conventional monofocal intraocular lenses (lenses that are not presbyopia or astigmatism-correcting). These conventional lenses will give you good distance vision, such as for when you're driving.
In this study, monofocal IOLs provided useful visual acuity from 1m to farther distances without a drop. In contrast, nearer than 0.8m, visual acuity dropped dramatically. We think monofocal IOLs are useful for patients who are willing to wear glasses for near vision.
As part of cataract surgery, your natural lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. There are three different types of intraocular lenses available including monofocal, toric, and presbyopic-correcting.
Wrong Lens Inserted During Cataract Surgery Leads to Complication and Permanent Blindness.
The reading section at the bottom of the lens doesn't interfere with your car dashboard, and you can use it for more everyday tasks. So, in short, if you're already comfortable with progressives, you can wear them for driving with no difficulties!
Multifocal IOLs aren't for everyone. However, if you are a candidate for this surgery, the benefits generally outweigh the associated risks. Reduced lifetime cost of glasses and contacts. Multifocal IOLs can decrease your need for reading glasses or computer glasses after cataract surgery.
This loss of flexibility is called presbyopia. A monofocal lens implant will provide you with a crystal clear lens, that results in excellent vision for reading distant signs when driving, seeing a movie or watching a ballgame.
Monofocal lenses (standard lenses covered by insurance) placed after cataract surgery allow patients to have cataract free vision, but some patients, especially those with astigmatism, will require glasses to see well in the distance and will definitely require glasses for reading.
Better close and distance vision
The new lenses inserted during cataract surgery can correct refractive vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and presbyopia.
Medicare Part B benefits cover 80% of the Medicare-approved amount for cataract surgery. You pay 20% of the Medicare Part B copay plus any out-of-pocket costs such as your deductible, medication costs and physician fees.
In most cases, cataract surgery isn't covered under Medicare Part A. This part of Original Medicare only covers hospitalizations, and cataract surgery is usually done as an outpatient procedure. However, Medicare Part A covers rare circumstances where cataract surgery requires hospitalization.
Private insurance and Medicare typically cover monofocal lenses, but each toric lens will start at about about $1,500, and specialized lenses will start at about $3,000 a piece. Specific specialized lenses such as presbyopia lenses and astigmatism lenses will have additional costs.
Glare, halos and other unwanted images
Many cataract patients experience “unwanted visual images” after surgery, also known as dyphotopsia. Glare, halos and streaks of light are examples of positive dysphotopsia. They occur more frequently at night or in dim lighting, and are more common with multifocal lenses.
It may take them three days, three months or six months to adjust and learn how to adapt to their new vision. Some patients may not ever adapt and, for them, we should be ready to exchange a multifocal or EDOF lens for a monofocal IOL.