I was extremely near-sighted and my prescription glasses were expensive. Because it was kind of an oddball prescription (right and left eyes were very different and I had a touch of astigmatism), I had to go to a specialty optical store. So the glasses were really expensive. And the place didn't do insurance of any sort (I had a flexible spending account, so I could use that).

Anyway, I had the cataract surgery and now I can do without glasses except for reading. I still need prescription lenses for both reading and distance (to get a drivers license), but they're about 10% of the cost of the old ones.

One thing I'd say - my doctor uses two different prescriptions for the replacement lenses - my right eye is a distance and the left a close-up. The downside is that it's hard for me to focus without glasses to even out the vision. This means it's virtually impossible for me to tweeze my eyebrows or get an eyelash out of my eye.

It sounds like others have the same prescription in both eyes and I think that would have been preferable, but it's moot for me. YVisionMV, but that's my two cents' worth.

I wonder if my insurance would cover that surgery. Probably not.

Mine covered $2k for "laser eye surgery", I think? I had to convince them it was laser eye surgery under their definition. But since it was the only kind I as eligible for...

Mom is here today. So, the plan is to go to volunteer day at the library bookstore while ltc naps this afternoon. I desperately need some adult interaction without her.

my right eye is a distance and the left a close-up

I was given that option with my surgery, because they weren't sure how much correction I'd need for close-up. But I did a test run with two different contact lenses, and it was horrible. There was always a sense of something being out of focus, and one of my great joys is being able to look out at the landscape and see it in focus. I only need readers for small print, and if I have a bright light I don't need them then.

Sean, much health-ma to your mom. My dad had A-fib 7 years ago, and after they stabilized him, they inserted a pacemaker/defibrillator right into him. He's still going at 88.

Health~ma for your mom, Sean.

I should look at the implantable contact lens surgery. Given that my mom just had cataract surgery, and my maternal grandmother & great-grandmother both had cataracts, it's a fairly sure bet that I'll have them.

It doesn't do anything for the cataracts though--I still have my original lenses, and could totally get cataracts when I'm older.

It doesn't do anything for the cataracts though--I still have my original lenses, and could totally get cataracts when I'm older.

Oh. Darn. Still, no contacts (or glasses) would be a bonus. Maybe in a few years.

The Facebook "Here are your memories!" list is rolling around to that time two years ago. Maybe I shouldn't read them. But hiding from it doesn't make it hurt less.