I saw a doctor for cataract surgery. He said because I have had lasik about 15 years ago and have no records, there was a special piece of equipment that gave better measurements of the eye and recommended someone 1 hour 45 min away. I am trying to find the name of the equipment so I can find someone closer. Any ideas? He is out of town for 3 weeks and I really don't want to wait that long.
You need to opt for ORA intra operative wavefront aberrometer. This is done at the time of the surgery after your lens is removed and is basically a confirmation of previous calculations.
Before surgery they can use many machines but with lasik there is possibility for errors. Some machines are Holliday, IOL master.
Good luck.
Some hospitals or clinics and thus, the cataract surgeons using them, have an ORA System available. There is usually for a few hundred dollars extra fee. The ORA system enables the surgeon to make IOL prescription changes, as needed, during the surgery itself (am assuming that they would have to have many IOLs with different prescriptions on hand to make such adjustments). Please note that such machines don't come up with better prescription before the surgery but during the surgery itself.
Another thing to remember is that while the ORA System results in a better outcome, the results for LASIK patients still leave something to be desired. For example, one advertised number is that the no of myopic LASIK patients who achieve final prescription within +- 0.5D increases by ORA use from 46% to 67%. (not 100%).
Having had LASIK enhancement for both of my eyes after the cataract surgeries, my suggestion will be to use a good surgeon who is convenient for the cataract surgery and then get LASIK enhancement later on for the best vision, if needed. Also, some surgeons (like my surgeon) include free LASIK enhancement for premium lenses (including monofocal toric lenses) as part of the basic price. That may be something for you to look into.
Nice that your surgeon included lasik enhancement. Can I ask what you were charged for such a procedure? I had restor multifocal toric in one eye and restor multifocal in other eye. $1400 each. Lasik/PRK is being referred to Miami at an additional $1400 per eye ...yag is being suggested inbetween the two procedures as yag May interfer with vision after PRK or lasik according to dr.
I had the lasik 15 years ago at about $2500 for both eyes. Now I need cataract surgery but since I don't have my original measurements from before the lasik it is harder to fit the new lense. There is some sort of special piece or equipment which gives better measurements. I am trying to find the name of that
Even if I have to wear glasses after the cataract is removed, at least it won't be blurred from the cataract and should give me good vision Right now the left eye is very blurry because of the cataract.
I paid about $2300 for Symfony Toric with laser enhancement for my right eye. His current prices for Premium Lens with LASIK enhancement as needed (in addition to the non-toric monofocal lens typically paid by Medicare in USA) are $2199 for toric monofocal lenses and $2499 for non-toric or toric multifocal and Symfony lenses.
Actually, I am a little surprised by his prices because just the LASIK surgery by him is about $1700 and he has to pass on some extra money to the hospital for the premium lens.
Thanks for that info. At least I’m not feeling too ripped off. If I decide to go to referred lasik dr in Miami I was quoted $1400 for lasik enhancement. I may return to original company for lasik as it’s still the same dr doing the work. I’m sure he could use my history as an example
It's the effect of this throat-cutting business here in the PNW. For the same surgery offered back East, the cost is more in tune with say what eye-surgeons charge in the US EastCoast.
Halifax Eye Institute of Halifax, Nova Scotia is reportedly charging private patients $5000 [possibly both eyes?] for the surgery alone plus $280 per eye for the soft lens. Some other Ophthalmology clinics in Quebec are charging C$2500 per eye for the surgery alone, sans lenses.
Oops, sorry just realized you were referring to lasik surgery while I was giving examples of cataract surgery. Actually, lasik surgery in Vancouver can demand C$6000 (with a $500 discount for some not sure what is the criteria) using laser excimers not approved by FDA and not available in the US
Jantje32476
I lived in Quebec for many years. My friend’s mother just had cataract surgery - Quebec of all the provinces covers the most services through Medicare. Premium lenses are now covered there (just recent). But it first must be determined if the reason for surgery is cataracts. Medicare won’t cover this procedure just to off ones glasses etc. So yes can believe that rate if for CLE
Is the Zeiss Lisa available in Canada?
I had Lasik around 15 years ago and didn't have my records and also didn't have ORA. I got non-toric monofocals for distance and basically never have to wear any glasses now for any distance, except once in a while and only reading glasses.
And on another forum I'm on several people have had ORA and it didn't work.
Looking to verify. We do have FineVision trifocals by B&L. I am not seeing if the atLISA is available. Still looking.
FINEvision (acronym: Far - Intermediate - NEar Vision) is the first trifocal diffractive lens, released by the company B.j. (Belgium) in 2010, ie 8 years ago. Zeiss launched atLISA in 2012 April, ie 6 years ago. Acrysoft IQ PanOptix trifocals, launched in 2016-01-26. I have an inkling that the eye-surgeon ( who operated on us) has the latest one if not all.
saraannmk
I have had my eye measured by the following 7 equipments.
Barrett
HH/RBF
Haiggis
Holladay
SRK/T
Hoffer Q
and
IOL Master
I have not had lasik and I do plan to use ORA.
Hi saraannmk, I would print out at201's reply to you. Read and highlight it; in fact all the points he mentioned are important to you and knowledge to many of us here.
If your doctor (for cataract surgery) is recommending you another cataract surgeon, who is experienced and qualified, how sure you are that the one nearer to your home is a better choice?
An equipment may be useful, but when it fails or gives contradicting signal during an operation, a skilled and experienced surgeon has to rely on his good judgement. To draw an analogy, when SFO shut down their ILS glide slope indicator, a pilot crashed a Boeing 777. In this 3 weeks you can better prepare yourself .. rather than rushing in to it. All the best.
Soks there may be some bigger clinics in Canada that have them as janje32476 suggests. Might be worth calling directly. These would be Vancouver or possibly Toronto. US dollar is also high compared to Canada’s so that would give you a 33% discount right there!
You might want to look into contrast sensitivity for trifocals - everything I have read seems to indicate there is less than Symfony or multifocal (2 focus lens) but right candidates for them consider trade-off of that worth it for them to have the clarity at near intermediate and far.
Thanks for the info. I don't think my insurance would pay for it anyway