Cataracts

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71infantry	Cataracts		Lead	[-]
Posts: 302 03/13/08 01:42:08	Last October I saw a va eye specialist to obtain new glasses. I was asked if I had been taking steriods and I informed the doctor that I had been on steriods for the last 6 or 7 years because of my lung conditon. He informed me that I had early onset of cataracts likey because of the steriods. Im my medical record he wrote, steriod use, and early onset of cataracts. When I asked him to write a statement saying "as likely as not or more likely than not" he refused saying it was not necessary. I was not concerned about it that much in Oct. Now I am having serious problems with my left eye, in fact I must shut my left eye just to use the computer. It seems the brighter something is the more problems I have. I called for an appointment and he explained the cartaract has progressed faster than he has ever seen. he scheduled me for an appointment later this month, but explained that if I need surgery the VA at San Antonio will no do it. My question has anyone had this problems and if so did surgery cure the problem? And after surgery will I still need glasses?
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brianwl		#1	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4844 03/13/08 05:58:55	My Brother had cataract because of his diabetes. He had the surgery and things worked out great. He still needs glasses, but as he said the Dr told him the need for continued use of glasses is kind of a crap shoot. Some still need them and some don't. He told me they do one eye and wait for it to completely heal then do the other eye. Brian E-6 USAF Ch 61 Ret 80% IU/P&T SC http://www.vote-them-out.org "A veteran - whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve - is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to The 'United States of America', for an amount of 'up to and including my life.'" (Author unknown)
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DEROS1969		#2	[url]	[-]
Posts: 187 03/13/08 07:21:10	Cateract surgery now a days is usually an out patient surgery. The VA can done it and I am surprised that San Antonio does not have an opthalmolgist to do it. They should fee base you out to an Opthalmogist. I think you are seeing an optomist. I have the same problem and I elected to use medicare to go the a civilian opthalmolgist for a REAL medical opinion. The diference between Optomoist and Opthalmoligist is the the opthalmolgist is a medical doctor that has done residence or special training in eyes. A optomist is a guy the went to school to only do glasses and check eyes. The VA is big on having optomist as the "Eye Doctor" because they come cheap compared to a optolmolgist My advise is it try and get to the big dog opthalmogist. Surely a big VA like San Antonia has one . If not I hope the can go to a civilian one. I do not want to scare you but you have big problems. To big for some little optomist dictor to care for. They do have a lens that can restore vision to 20/20. Medicare will not pay because it is not considered medical neccessary. I plan on paying for the better lens out on my packet. It a couple hundred dollars extra, I have been told. My glases have been thick all my life. Anything in a better lens. Bottom, you got a bad problem and get a REAL eye doctor the opthalmogist! You sight is to important for a doctor of optomity to care for. I do not even believe half of what he told you. GET TO A "REAL" EYE DOCTOR BEFORE YOU GO BLIND!
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DEROS1969		#3	[url]	[-]
Posts: 188 03/13/08 07:29:41	Your "va eye specialist" is no specialist. I think he just s VA EL CHEAPO eye doctor that checks eyes and gives glasses. He is stupid telling you that crap. Real eye specialist can do cataract surgery. Get someone that knows what is is talking about. Sorry but this sort of crap from the VA pisses me off. Anything to save a buck. Forget the veteran is going blind. We want to save money. End of rant. Last Edited By: DEROS1969 03/13/08 09:24:22. Edited 2 times.
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SgtD6970		#4	[url]	[-]
Posts: 36 03/13/08 15:42:43	I have had Cataract surgery did on both eyes one in 2005 and the other in 2007, I used Medicare and Tricare to pay for it, since neither one will pay for the lense that will correct you to 20/20 I couldn't afford the extra money so I still need glasses for distance, I can read without glasses but can't drive for I can't see far off. Before the surgery I had to wear glasses all the time. I suggest that you get this taken care of as soon as you can as this can lead to other medical issues. Sgt D
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jford2		#5	[url]	[-]
VBNer Posts: 606 03/17/08 08:49:19	If your doctor doesn't have the confidence to do the job by all means stay away from the guy. The type of surgery you need is very common place. A VA doctor performed surgery on one of my eyes and it worked out great. Price on the "outside" at that time(1998) was 3500.00 per eye. The lens installed was for distance so I use "readers" for about 10.00 a pair. Do you have DM2 and are you a Vietnam vet? Your condition may be service connected. Good luck.
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prairiedog9a		#6	[url]	[-]
Super Senior VBNer Posts: 4930 04/09/08 13:55:02	I have two small Cateracts in my left eye. Have had them for five years. Being they are small as yet they don't affect my eye sight.
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cruiser		#7	[url]	[-]
Posts: 7389 04/09/08 15:51:42	Two thirds of all Americans over the age of 60 will have cataracts. Cataract removal is now the single most common surgery performed in the U.S. The eye docs do these like an assembly line on an outpatient basis. My cataracts were diagnosed in my early 50's at the same time I asked about Lasik surgery to correct my vision. My doc told me to not waste my money because as soon as the cataracts got bad enough he could accomplish the same thing and my insurance would pay for it. He then said, "Let's root for the cataracts", meaning that we would hope for a fast progression so he could do surgery. As luck would have it they rapidly worsened and I had bilateral cataract surgery about two years later. He did one eye on Friday and the other one on the following Monday. On Tuesday I drove an automobile for the first time in my life without eyeglasses. Cataract surgery has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me in my adult life. He didn't get my 20/400 vision all the way down to 20/20, but he did get it to 20/40 in one eye and 20/60 in the other eye. I have some pesky astigmatism problems that linger; however, my glasses are now paper thin instead of the thick things I wore for so many years and I can function without them entirely if I so desire. I highly recommend the cataract surgery as soon as possible. It's like being reborn. Cruiser
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wjsol	VA & Eye Glasses	#8	[url]	[-]
Posts: 4 07/20/08 10:44:49	Hello to all. I am fairly new to VBN, but a big thanks to all who post answers, very, very helpful!! I was rated 100% P&T for CLL in Jan 08. VA health care, to this point has been good, but I think that I'm beginning to see some "cracks in the armor". I am beginning to get the feeling that VA health care is pretty good for basics, but not sure about how good they are with more complicated issues? My question, however, is fairyl simple. Recently I had an eye exam at the VA. I was examined by an Optomitrist. Eyes were medically OK, but this Optomitrist recommedned eye drops for dry eye, but went on to tell me that the eye drops that the VA pharmacy dispensed were "Junk" (her words, I'm quoting her), and gave me the name for what she recommended that I purchase "ovet the counter". OK, not a big deal, although I was surprised to hear this from a VA doctor. As I am on several Med's which I receive "free" from the VA, I asked her if the other Med's that the VA perscribed were also "Junk"? She seemed a little flustered, and responded that the VA generally perscribed good drugs. OK, again not a big deal, just interesting. I than asked about a pair of eye glasses, as I thought that I had read that the VA would give me one pair of eye glasses a year. She told me that the VA policy had changed, and that they (VA) would only give me a pair of glasses if my perscription had a significant changed or if my current glasses were no longer wearable (worn out or broken). She went on to tell me that since this was my first request for eye glasses, she would authorize a pair for me. I said great, an went on to tell her that I wore "progressive" lenses (bifocals with no line). She said "sorry", VA will not give you progressive lenses, only bifocals with lines. I said thanks, but as I would perfer progressive lenses, I'll purchase them myself. My question to anyone knowledgable on the subject is; is this the broad base policy of the VA, or possibly just a local cost saving measure (Manchester NH VA)? I am not a hardship case, and I'm not complaining - just have developed a sense of pessimism with the VA. Anybody had a similar encounter with VA? Thanks, and Good Luck to All!!! Walt
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TomB130	Good info	#9	[url]	[-]
Posts: 7 07/21/08 18:20:10	These posts have givien me a lot of good info on what to expect as my eye problems become more serious. The thought of anyone, anything messing with my eyes gives me the willies. It sounds like I need to calm down and when the time comes, go do it. WJSOL - I too am new to the VA but I've kind of already got a feeling for what goes on. The medical people are great, docs, nurses, techs all seem to do a darn good job or at least try real hard. But the administrative side, the bean counters, are not my friends. They are an adversarial lot who seem to get raises based on how many bucks they don't send to a GI. Ever hear of the VA apologizing for taking years to settle a claim or for out right screwing up paperwork? Ya never will.
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ggold7211	HMMM,	#10	[url]	[-]
Posts: 1754 07/22/08 14:15:21 Mod Emeritus	This statement is absurd! " But the administrative side, the bean counters, are not my friends. They are an adversarial lot who seem to get raises based on how many bucks they don't send to a GI. Ever hear of the VA apologizing for taking years to settle a claim or for out right screwing up paperwork? Ya never will." Gold 67-68 VIETNAM 70-71 THAILAND
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