Read below for information about Dr. Davison's cataract surgery services and associated fees for special services
Cataracts develop when the clear, crystalline lens inside of our eye becomes cloudy. Everyone develops cataracts as they get older, and at some point the cataracts may need to be removed. When is removal appropriate? When your vision is limited to a point where you are no longer able to do the tasks that you enjoy or must perform such as reading, watching TV, hobbies, night driving, professional duties, etc., then cataract surgery is medically appropriate.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient surgical procedure. Dr. Davison's surgical technique is painless, requires no injections, patching or stitches, and offers a rapid visual recovery. Patients can bend over and lift after surgery, and most are back to their normal routine within 5 days.
Since cataracts are a medical problem, medical insurance will cover the cost of the surgery. However, you may still need glasses to correct your distance vision and you will most likely need reading glasses.
What most people do not realize is that cataract surgery can also be a "refractive" surgical proce dure, meaning that we can greatly reduce the need for glasses under most circumstances. Unfortunately, insurance does not pay for these additional services, since they are considered purely cosmetic. However, you do have the choice of selecting these optional services for an additional fee. We offer financing options through Citi Health Card to make these choices more affordable to our patients.
If you desire to greatly reduce your overall dependence on glasses, there are additional factors that must be considered.
If astigmatism is present, then it may need to be corrected for you to be able to see well at distance without glasses. This requires the insertion of a special "toric" lens implant at the time of surgery to reduce the astigmatism. Toric lens implants are considered premium implants and are not covered by insurance. However, these lenses can be implanted for as little as $90 per month with no interest for 18 months (this financing example assumes that both eyes will require a toric implant. If only one eye requires a toric implant, than the charges are $45 per month). Some patients may not be candidates for a toric IOL. This would be determined during the preoperative evaluation.
If patients are interested in an implant that corrects for both distance and reading vision (known as a multi-focal lens implant), they will be counseled in detail regarding the pros and cons of such an implant. Then, they will be able to make an informed decision as to whether such an implant is right for them. Similar to the toric lenses, multi-focal lens implants are considered premium implants and are not covered by insurance. However, these lenses can be implanted for as little as $223 per month with no interest for 18 months (this financing option includes both eyes, since multi-focal implants must be implanted in each eye for the patient to see through the lenses properly).
Why do we charge additional fees for these services? The correction of astigmatism and /or the implantation of a special premium lenses require Dr. Davison to spend much more time with the patient and requires much more precision in the pre-operative measurements. Additional images of the eye along with special lens calculations are required to determine implant powers. This extra time and effort is required to ensure the best results and your satisfaction.
Additional refractive cataract surgery options can be expensive and it is important to know these costs in advance to enable you to appropriately plan financially for any services that you may desire.
