Double Vision? How about 12???

[kindredspirit2]

Dear Doctors,
Two eye doctors have no clue as to what is wrong with my eyes. I see up to 12 images of one item. It was 6. Then 3. Then 6. Now 12. I have the beginnings of a cataract in both eyes but why would both eyes have the same configuration of the 12 images? My glasses' strength is over 17. I am 52. What can you contribute in how to diagnose what is wrong?

Thank you for your time and attention.
kindredspirit2

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You need to see a third "eye doctor". That should be an Eye MD physician that does cornea and cataract work. This is an extremely unusual complaint. You should have a corneal topography to be sure you do not have keratoconus or irregular astigmatism and a re-evaluation of your lens.  A cataract such as a posterior sub-capsular cataract might cause something like this. I would seek out one of your community's outstanding Eye MDs with an excellen reputation and a large practice.

If that exam doesn't turn up anything then I would see a neuro-ophthalmology, that's an Eye MD that deals with difficult diagnosis.

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon

[kindredspirit2]

THANKS!

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

You are Welcome

JCH III MD

[kindredspirit2]

Dear Doc,

I found a doctor near enough that does corneal reshaping via Lasix. I will be making an appointment with him in December. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again for your help. I now know what it probably is and who to go to. That is a lot more than I knew before your advice.

Thanks again
kindredspirit2

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

Let us know hot things turn out. Good Luck
JCH III MD

[kindredspirit2]

Hello Doctor,

Thank you again for your information, I did finally get a full exam from an Eye Dr (ophthalmologist)  and he said my cornea was fine. I have no signs of glaucoma and my retina is fine. He said that I had a significant cataract in both eyes. It was caused by my myopia which was a 10 in 1996 and is now over 17. In fact, he said that the increasing myopia is caused by the cataracts. He also said that my multiple images are caused by the cataracts.

Unfortunately, my insurance will not cover the $30,000 surgery until December 1, 2008.

I love the new format and it is nice to see your smiling face!
kindredspirit2

[AnnaE]

Have you told the new eye doctor that you will have to wait a year for surgery? I am concerned about possible consequences. Maybe there is another way to do it.

My daughter had detached retinas and we found a surgeon who would do it, even though we had no insurance.

I am glad you now have a diagnosis.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I don't know where you get the figure $30,000 for a cataract operation with an implant. In the USA a cataract operation done as an out patient including the surgeon's fee, cost of implant, and facility fee (surgicenter) would come in at less than $7000 in most areas.

JCH III MD

[kindredspirit2]

I searched the web and thought that the surgery would cost $3-4,000 per eye. Then I called the doctor's office and was told that of the three hospitals he does the surgery at, the least liked hospital would cost $12,100 PER EYE......WITHOUT THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST'S FEE!!!!!!! Why would the doctor's office tell me such a whopping figure when she already knew my insurance would not cover a penny of it?

This makes no sense to me!

Dr Hagan, III, thank you so much for pointing this out to me. I will start EyeMD shopping immediately!

kindredspirit2

[kindredspirit2]

The $30,000 is $12,100 times 2 equals $24,200 plus about $1600 for anesthesiologist equals $25,800. The rounding up to $30,000 was an emotional over-reaction but it will cost me more than $25,800 because of many extra expenses and loss of wages.

I am a bookkeeper so I want to be accurate but even at the more accurate dollar amount, the difference is very great.

[LukeL]

Still, that seems WAY to high. I hade major surgery back in 1994 and was 5 days in the ICU and the total bill for everything was under $50,000.00

I can't see how an outpatient procedure would cost so much. (unless you are going to Beverly Hills or something)

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS]

I think it should be possible to have the surgery done on both eyes much cheaper than $28,800.

I just read about a Canadian man with a brain tumor that under their socialized healthcare could not get an MRI for 4 months and it would be 8 months minimum to have brain surgery. He came to the US and had the surgery. All costs including several MRIs were $28,000

I would suggest you call a number of offices especially those that have their own surgicenter. If you offer to pay what Medicare pays you costs will be much, much less.
No one paying case will pay full retail price. Many eye surgeons have a sticker price of $3,000 for cataract/IOL surgery but accept less than $800 from Medicare and other insurance plans.

JCH III MD

[MMEE]

Dr. Hagan is absolutely right about $3000 cash price per eye.  That is what I paid total for cataract surgery which included the anesthesiologist and surgery center.

[kindredspirit2]

Hello Doctor,

I have another question for you about my multiple vision. The eye dr I saw said I had cataracts that was causing my multiple images and greatly worsening my myopia. I tried putting an old pair of glasses over my current pair. I COULD SEE PERFECTLY! Now, my question before I go see if Vision Works can make me a strong enough lens. IF the multiple images go away when I get stronger lenses, is that still because of the cataract or is it just the myopia? I know, he saw the cataract and it is there but I have a high curiosity level.

Thank you for you time and attention
kindredspirit2