Share Your Story-Elaine's Cataract Surgery.

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This is from Ken & Elaine, #29:

Elaine thought the folks might like to know about her recent experience with cataract surgery and two of the local surgeons.

 

CATARACT SURGERY

Good news and a caution (if I may). A few weeks ago my good lady Elaine was diagnosed with cataracts and was recommended to have cataract surgery in both eyes. What most of you do not know is that she has been wearing glasses since he was three years old, and those glasses were a bit like the bottoms of Coke bottles.

She has now undergone the surgery on both sides and I am delighted to tell you that she has 20/20 vision after just 2 weeks! She is like a little girl who was suddenly got a new Dolly as she can now see things that she has never seen before. How absolutely wonderful!

Now for the word of caution and recommended due diligence. Our optician in Edinburg, Dr Navarro, (who is, by the way, very good) referred us to Dr. Pena. The first thing that stood out was that neither the Doctor nor his staff did any more than a very cursory examination of Elaine’s eyes. When we met the doctor, Elaine, not being a Spanish speaker, called him Dr. Pena, as in Penna. He promptly took her to task for not pronouncing his name correctly, as in Penya. From then on he proceeded to brag about all the surgeries he has done and to promote very heavily the multi-focal “Crystalens” IOL. He briefly mentioned a lesser lens but did not promote it. When we met his clerk we discovered that the lesser lens was the one covered by Medicare and was essentially free, and the Crystalens would cost $6500, (being considered by Medicare as cosmetic.). At this point we terminated the interview so that we could do some extensive research on the Internet. We also, not liking the attitude of Dr. Pennnyyaa, who we thought was arrogant and high-handed, notwithstanding that he is a good surgeon, sought a second opinion.

The second opinion was given to us by Dr. Shah who was modest and gentle and he and his staff did a thorough examination of Elaine’s eyes. He explained that he could install the Mono-focal lens which would be covered by Medicare or the multi-focal lens at a cost of $4500 including any surgery required for astigmatism. After this meeting we went away and did a lot more research. We found at least five different kinds of lens as well as a number of manufacturers. We also found the typical problems associated with each kind. For example the multi-focal, which would give clear vision from close-up to infinity has problems with glare, halos and contrasting similar colors. There is also a possibility that prescription glasses would be required. The mono-focal lens has a much smaller risk of the above problems but simple magnifying off-the-shelf glasses would be required for reading. At this time Dr Shah met with us a second time and then Elaine settled on the mono-focal with the doctor’s blessing. And two weeks later it was all done, 20/20 vision and no discomforts!

If your ophthalmologist suggests cataract surgery we strongly recommend Dr. Shah over Dr. Pennyyaa, for both cost and attitude. We also strongly recommend that you do due diligence on all the options before proceeding.

Elaine & Ken