Cataract surgery and free Medicare glasses

[CWRadio]

I understand Medicare will pay for a standard frame and lens after you have cataract surgery.
https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyegl ... act-lenses
Do you get the free glasses if you have surgery in one eye only? My optometrist said you need both eyes done (will not submit form to Medicare for one eye). Bard.google.com said both and each eye.
Any real world experience from a Boglehead? Thanks Paul

[Rotarman]

Should be 1 pair per surgery. Consider getting your glasses online eg from Zenni optical, my last pair were $25. $25 may be worth your time trying to fight for your free pair.

[pizzy]

Send this to your doctor: https://www.aoa.org/news/practice-manag ... sses?sso=y

[jebmke]

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyegl ... act-lenses

You pay 100% for non-covered services, including most eyeglasses or contact lenses. After you meet the Part B deductible, you pay 20% of the Medicare-Approved Amount for corrective lenses after each cataract surgery with an intraocular lens. You pay any additional costs for upgraded frames. Medicare will only pay for contact lenses or eyeglasses from a supplier enrolled in Medicare, no matter if you or your supplier submits the claim.

[pizzy]

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyegl ... act-lenses

OP posted the same link

[jebmke]

https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/eyegl ... act-lenses

OP posted the same link

and I'm not sure why it was unclear. "Each"

Somehow I don't think CMS cares what Bard thinks.

[CWRadio]

Thank you all. The Medicare site said after each cataract surgery and the AOA Focus coding information both say after each eye cataract surgery . Paul

[carolinaman]

I had cataract surgery in both eyes in January and February. I was totally unaware of Medicare providing new glasses. I got my prescription filled at Costco. It is not clear what level of eye glasses Medicare will provide. I always get progressive lenses and other add ons. Not sure how beneficial this would have been but I wish I had been aware of it 5 months ago.

[Bcdkgf]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

Edited to add costs if anyone is interested:

Right Eye, Limbal Relaxing Incision to correct astigmatism (Toric Lens, not available for too low an astigmatism): $1500
Left Eye, Toric Lens $2000
Eye Drops: $80 from compound pharmacy, Three in one solution.

[jebmke]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

My surgeon told me that reading glasses would be paid for as well but she also said that inexpensive OTC reading glasses were just as good. I buy them by the half-dozen. I have pairs scattered all over the house and more than one pair somewhere out in the yard - unless the crows took them; they like shiny objects.

[Bcdkgf]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

My surgeon told me that reading glasses would be paid for as well but she also said that inexpensive OTC reading glasses were just as good. I buy them by the half-dozen. I have pairs scattered all over the house and more than one pair somewhere out in the yard - unless the crows took them; they like shiny objects.

I use different strengths of reading glasses from Dollar Tree to do certain arts and crafts. But, free is free, so will let them make the glasses. He refused my offer to loan him a pair of Cat Eyes with rhinestones. It will be fun to see him enjoy his new vision, he worked hard his whole life and balked at paying extra and I told him, this is what we saved for, just do it!

[jebmke]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

My surgeon told me that reading glasses would be paid for as well but she also said that inexpensive OTC reading glasses were just as good. I buy them by the half-dozen. I have pairs scattered all over the house and more than one pair somewhere out in the yard - unless the crows took them; they like shiny objects.

I use different strengths of reading glasses from Dollar Tree to do certain arts and crafts. But, free is free, so will let them make the glasses. He refused my offer to loan him a pair of Cat Eyes with rhinestones. It will be fun to see him enjoy his new vision, he worked hard his whole life and balked at paying extra and I told him, this is what we saved for, just do it!

I also paid extra for the toric lens implants - one the the best investments I made. But this was a while ago and my astigmatism is creeping back a little. I now wear regular glasses to re-correct for activities like driving and birding where I need sharp vision.

[FreddieFIRE]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

That was the plan for me, but my vision in my fixed eye was so good, I just skipped the glasses while waiting for the second surgery. If you can see 20/20 out of the corrected eye, that second blurry eye will just kick back and chill. Also, I waited until after the second surgery to buy some cheapo readers at Walgreeens. I shouldn't have waited, as reading glasses aren't exactly science. Buy some 1.5's for the computer and you're good to go for most things.

[nonnie]

I don't wish to hijack this thread but since there are so much good information perhaps my question can be answered. I had cataract surgery 3 years ago and did not get any glasses/frames.I've done some Google searches but can't seem to find an answer to my question below.

I have developed secondary cataracts-- posterior capsular opacification (PCO)- (apparently very common) and will require an additional procedure in both eyes. I've been told there there's no way to predict if my vision will be the same or not. In any case I will require readers and because my eyes are so different, I would like to get prescription readers this time.

Will these glasses be covered?

[jebmke]

I don't wish to hijack this thread but since there are so much good information perhaps my question can be answered. I had cataract surgery 3 years ago and did not get any glasses/frames.I've done some Google searches but can't seem to find an answer to my question below.

I have developed secondary cataracts-- posterior capsular opacification (PCO)- (apparently very common) and will require an additional procedure in both eyes. I've been told there there's no way to predict if my vision will be the same or not. In any case I will require readers and because my eyes are so different, I would like to get prescription readers this time.

Will these glasses be covered?

I don't know but my guess would be no - this doesn't really affect the lens if I understand correctly. I think this is the same thing I had in my left eye after five years and it was fixed with YAG laser treatment - a 10 minute procedure that made no difference to my vision other than remove the cloud.

[Doom&Gloom]

My hubby is getting cataract surgery with astigmatism correction soon on his right eye. They will pop out the right lens, so his left eye can see correctly. Then 2 weeks later they will do his left eye, also with astigmatism correction. The reading glasses will be paid for by Medicare (free for him) at his associated opticians place after both eyes are done/healed. We are paying extra for the astigmatism correction.

That was the plan for me, but my vision in my fixed eye was so good, I just skipped the glasses while waiting for the second surgery. If you can see 20/20 out of the corrected eye, that second blurry eye will just kick back and chill. Also, I waited until after the second surgery to buy some cheapo readers at Walgreeens. I shouldn't have waited, as reading glasses aren't exactly science. Buy some 1.5's for the computer and you're good to go for most things.

Similar story here. I had two Toric lens implants. In between the surgeries, I simply popped the appropriate lens out of one side of my glasses and continued to wear them between surgeries. My ophthalmologist suggested that I get cheap readers so I did. In retrospect I wish I had gone to a B&M optician as the strength of correction that I needed for reading was different for each eye. I had a lot of difficulty finding an online eyeglasses dispenser that could accomodate that. Even after I did I wasn't completely satisfied, but I wear readers so rarely that it isn't worth the trouble to get better ones.

If I had to do it over again, I would take advantage of Medicare coverage even if it were only for readers.

And ouch! at those Toric lens prices. Mine were $900 per eye (above Medicare coverage) several years ago. Best money I ever spent!

[jebmke]

Similar story here. I had two Toric lens implants. In between the surgeries, I simply popped the appropriate lens out of one side of my glasses and continued to wear them between surgeries.

Same; it was a bit weird for a couple of weeks but it worked fine. I also put an eye patch on the bad side sometimes and went with no glasses at all. My pirate days were brief.