I was recently told that I’m developing cataracts and will eventually need surgery once my vision deteriorates to the point where it significantly impacts my daily life. I’m considering having the procedure done in Taiwan, as premium multifocal lenses are pretty expensive in the USA.
For those who had cataract surgery done:
• Did you have it done in Taiwan or the USA?
• What factors influenced your decision?
• Which intraocular lens did you choose, and how has your experience been with it so far?
Had mine done 4 weeks apart in June/July 2021 at En Chu Kong Hospital in Sanxia.
Done in Taiwan as it was discovered here when being tested for new glasses and waiting until I was next in Australia (This was during Covid) would have meant waiting a long time).
I had the most common one which leaves you long-sighted (still need glasses for reading). The bi-focal ones were said to be over TWD22000.
Cost was just the copayment fees each visit - less than TWD2000 all up.
So you had cataract surgery done upon first detection? My eye doctor said I have some mild symptoms but that I can wait until it bothers me enough. Is there an advantage to waiting? Was there a big difference in your before and after vision?
So you had the monofocal lenses put in. Was there any pain or discomfort? How long before you were back to normal?
I think I’ll most likely opt for a multifocal or similar type of lens.
I had my left lens removed in 2021 (cataract), replaced by an ATIOL lens the name of which I wouldn’t know without calling them.
I’m a Medigap guy. As you probably know, Medicare will replace your natural lens with an intraocular lens (IOL), no cost other than the balance on your yearly deductible and, as far as I know, there’s also a 20% coinsurance payment for Medicare for cataract surgery; Medigap takes care of that for me. You’ll still have to wear eyeglasses for reading.
The advanced tech one I got was about US$1,900. It was a good call. It was a little like one of those laying on of hands miracle cure experiences. Although I had cataracts in both eyes, I didn’t have the right one done (very small, but growing cataract still there) but I went from glasses at all times to no glasses whatsoever and crystal clear vision. I am now able to read very tiny small print with no problems at all. Kind of amazing.
Only drawback is a loss of definition if what I’m looking at is between me and a strong light source. It can be annoying to pick out who I’m talking to if the sun’s behind them, for example. I sometimes struggle to see much more than a silhouette.
I’ll probably have the right eye done with whatever is the latest ATIOL at that time. I keep saying it’s coming up, but my right eye really isn’t that bad yet.
Edited to add that before cataracts I had 20-20 or better in both eyes. My eyeballs are pretty spherical, in other words. I’m not sure if the ATIOL works as well on eyes that have always been a little off.
I should have been more detailed - I had realised that my eyes were not right for a year or so before, and an Optometrist that I visit in Sydney each year had said there were signs of Cataracts, but that it did not need action unless things deteriorated. And they did in the year or so before I had the Surgery. I found that reading with glasses OFF was better than with them ON (odd!!) and then that the ‘ticker’ on the TV was becoming harder to read, and I realised after the surgery that my vision seemed much clearer, colours were better defined.
So off to the Doctor - firstly at Chung Shan Hospital (my Partner’s Hospital of Choice) where a specialist confirmed Cataracts, but gave me drops and said to come back in a month. A month seemed a bit too long, not to mention the regular changes about medical centres due to Covid at the time, so about a week later I ended up visiting an Ophthalmologist at En Chu Kong who offered to do the job the following week.
There was no pain or discomfort, the anaesthetic is by way of eye drops, and while I was aware of him doing things, and speaking in English all the way (probably to record what he was doing). All was over in less than an hour from walking in, I left with a patch on one eye, and an eye shield to wear while sleeping, and caught the bus home. Back the next day for the cover to be removed, I could see better than before even then, drops etc each day, no washing head lest water get in the eye, wear patch over eye when going outside, and the final OK at 100% vision 2 weeks after. Another week saw the other eye done.
My friends in Australia had the proverbial fit when I told them, for 2 reasons - Cost, and the fact that it was done during Covid as Cataract surgery is considered to be Elective in Australia, and all Elective surgery was cancelled during Covid.
