Opposite eye correction after vitrectomy/buckle/cataract

[matt_ret_d_vitrectomy]

Aboiut 15 weeks ago, my left eye had a retinal tear and small detached area repaired by cryo and a small gas bubble.  Those repaired areas were fine, but at my 2 week followup, a circumferential 360 degree detachment of my retina was present.  About 11 weeks ago, that was repaired by vitrectomy, laser, scleral buckle, and my eye was filled with SF6 gas.  After 7 weeks of face-down recovery, my bubble was small enough to go face-up.  My retina was reportedly in excellent recovery.  Unfortunately, a cataract had formed as a result of the bubble and procedures.  I was amazed I had 20/30 vision through a pinhole with my old glasses on, so I feel that my chances for an excellent complete visual recovery are good.
  Now, after 11 weeks, the gas bubble is still present, although it's very small and shrinking (I think I'm setting a new record for my surgeon for gas persistence).  My old correction i my detached/cataract eye was -6.75, cylinder -0.50, axis 133, add 1.75 (myopic, slight astimatism, some presbyopia).
My "healthy" eye is -7.50 cyl -1.25 axis 043 add +1.75

In about 9 weeks time, I'm looking at my 3-month followup on my vitrectomy and scleral buckle surgery, and I am hoping to be able to have the cataract removed and new lens implanted shortly thereafter.  I'm very much looking forward to having "glasses free" vision, at least for distance vision, if possible, with an IOL implant.  

My surgeon has advised me that my opposite eye (my dominant eye) will need correction as well to "balance the magnification" of my non-operated eye. I'd like to have my "healthy" eye corrected as soon as possible also.

I'm trying to better understand my options here.  I understand certain laser correction or IOL implants for my "healthy" eye are options in order to be "glasses free", or I can choose to partially correct my cataract eye and continue wearing corrective lenses (glasses) for both eyes, or correct my cataract fully and wear a contact lens on my "healthy" eye.
Questions:
  - Are these the truly the typical options?
  - What is the typical insurance coverage for each of the options?  
  - Can you explain the optical reasons for the "difference in magnification" that will result after IOL on my cataract eye?
  - What is the technical term for the "imbalance in magnification" and it's correction (so I can search for references) ?
  - Is there any typical waiting period between conducting cataract surgery in one eye, and the other correction in the "healthy" one, assuming no complications?

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

1. Yes you understand your options. I would not plan on being glasses free however.
2. Usually insurance will cover LASIK on healthy eye even if it does not have a cataract if you have tried glasses and contacts and cannot adjust. They will "precertify" to be sure you have coverage.
3. The image in your eye after a cataract IOL operation will be larger and not "fuse" with the smaller image from the quite myopic other eye.
4. The term for this is aneisometropia.
5. I would wait 2-3 months during which you can try your other options.
6. Realize that a cataract operation will increase the risk of a RD by a factor of 10, not 10% but ten times (after surgery risk of RD about 6-9%

JCH MD

[matt_ret_d_vitrectomy]

Thank you for the excellent information!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You are welcome and good luck.

JCH MD