Cataract Surgery in Houston
Implanting premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) in your eyes can significantly increase the cost of your cataract surgery. In Houston, just like any other cities in US, the recent development in cataract surgery technologies allows you to choose among several types of IOLs depending on your requirement and budget.
Advantages of Using Premium IOLs in Cataract Surgery in Houston
The researchers at Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine conducted a bilateral cataract surgery in Houston centre on 26 patients. While they have received an aspheric premium intraocular lens on one eye, a spherical intraocular lens is implemented on the other eye. There is no manufacturing difference in these lenses, since those were made from the same brand, Alcon.
Aspheric IOLs are specifically designed to correct the problems associated with spherical aberration. Six months following the surgery, it has been found that the eye with aspheric IOL experienced much lower spherical aberration compared to the eye having spherical lens in it. This means better contrast sensitivity and improved visual acuity in the eye with low spherical aberration, when premium IOL is used.
Crystalens HD, another premium accommodating IOL, enhances vision at all ranges compared to non-premium lenses. Then again multifocal IOL such as AcrySof ReSTOR offers much better performance when it comes to uncorrected near vision. Both of these types of intraocular lenses reduce the need of computer glasses and reading glasses following a cataract surgery.
In Houston or any other places in the United States, choosing these lenses can increase your overall surgery cost, since these lenses are costlier than normal monocular lenses, but these premium lenses empower you with a full range of vision.
Cost of Cataract Surgery in Houston with Premium IOLs
Prior to May, 2005, the cataract surgery in Houston or any other cities in US was relatively straightforward. It’s simply because of the reason that Medicare along with its different centers around the state mediates in the cost of cataract treatment and then pays around 80% of the final cost.
But the rule has changed since May, 2005 as the patients need to pay from their own pocket, if they want to undergo with the excess cost of the premium IOLs. The currently available FDA approved Presbyopic intraocular lenses are AcrySof ReSTOR® IOL, crystalens®, and ReZoom™ IOLs. However, use of these premium lenses is not covered under Medicare and its managing centers.
Medicare and most insurance companies cover the procedures which are medically necessary; hence they offer coverage for cataract removal when a conventional lens is inserted. According to the coverage rules set by Medicare and its managing centers, this is an elective choice of the patients to go for presbyopia-correcting premium IOLs, so they are not likely to cover the additional costs associated with premium lenses.
Since the usage of premium lenses in cataract removal is not a mandatory choice, there is no set fee for that and the final cost may vary from doctor to doctor and from clinic to clinic. On average, the additional cost per eye is about $1900. Since the average cost of cataract surgery in Houston is $3400, use of premium lens in one eye can cost you around $5300.
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