Question:
As to the operation - which is likely what I will do - I'm told
it's covered by Medicare. For those who had the operation, does
the Medicare supplement (J) cover the remainder of the cost, or
at least most of it? Is it painful? Can you drive after the
operation? Can you still read and pass a driver's eye test?
Answer:
I'm a layperson, and can't speak to anything other than personal
experience, but I had cataract surgery on my right eye three years ago,
and expect cataract surgery on my left eye in the next year or two.
As far as driving home after the surgery, I didn't think the answer was
that obvious. I felt fine, but was told that I shouldn't drive that day
*or* the next, not because of the eye, but because of the anesthetic. I'm
not sure what "sedation" means, but although there was no pain, I would
think that a knife to the eye would be real painful. However, the local
anesthetic not only completely eliminated my vision, it also blocked the
pain. I don't know how much the IV drugs helped the pain, but they
certainly were necessary for my peace of mind!
Only way to observe the crystalline lens is by a slit-lamp
exam by an eye professional. One can't "see" one's lens, either
clear or cataractous, unless the lens has a cataract that's
hypermature.
I will avoid any commentary about the drops clearing up the cat-
aracts in your pet other than saying that a cataract is NOT a
film OVER the eye; a cataract is an opacity of the crystalline
lens which is behind the pupil. Only time when a cataract can
be seen by the naked eye is when the cataract is "mature" and
then I find it hard to believe that any drops can clear
something like this up in less than 2 wks.
