I just got home about 45 minutes ago and my vision is still more blurry than normal. I have been for years using an eye doctor at a place we will call company A. A small eye firm with two shops, great people, good doctor, and a wide selection of frames. Plus the glasses were a great price, far less expensive than the big companies. After your exam if you needed glasses you picked out two frames, they only charged you for one of the frames. Then you selected your lenses. One with all the features would be put in the frames you selected, the other frames would have just plain prescription lenses so you had an emergency back up pair. The two pairs of glasses often were half the price of one pair of the big local chains.
In November, Ron went to the big local chain eye doctors he has seen before because they treat his eye disease, which our small eye doctor did not, and they pushed him hard to get cataract surgery. Both of us have cataracts so we thought his had gotten worse than mine, even though his developed much later than mine. When he checked out, his visit was no charge because he had medicare. So we made an appointment for me, thinking it also would be no charge. But he needed a follow-up visit for a different test, scheduled a few weeks ago and they hammered him with charges. Cost us $188 dollars with his medicare paying also.
But being hopeful that my eye appointment would be covered under Medicare, we kept my appointment, which was this morning. I wish I had not. *** edit They charged me nearly $100 for my eye exam *** So they did some test on me they didn’t do for Ron, but every test they did for me was tests my other eye doctor did, but they did tests for Ron they did not do for me. But even before they gave me an eye exam they asked if I had watched the video they sent to me as a text. I said I did not. Turns out it was a video on cataract surgery choices. In the check in stuff, they gave us extra forms to fill out again before even examining me about if I were to have cataract surgery what choices I would want. At this point, they had not examined me to see if I had cataracts. Remember they had pushed Ron hard to have the surgery.
So when the tech finished, and unlike the other eye doctor I had the tech did all the tests for my eyesight portion where my first eye doctor did the tests themselves, she gave me a video to watch on different choices for cataract surgery. When the doctor came in, the first thing she asked was about the video, then launched into talking about the cataract surgery and how she wanted me to plan it for next year. She had not even looked into my eyes yet. She felt the left was bad and growing bad much faster than the right, so I should plan for next year and what options did I think I might want. I told her I would need more time to think on it. Later Ron told me the first option Medicare paid for but the other options ran thousands of dollars.
Then she quickly did her check in my eye quickly spewing numbers to her assistant operating the computer, saying scaring such and such at such and such in the left eye … but when she was done she went back to talking about the cataract. But she never talked to me about the scaring in my left eye! So then they had me sit in the waiting room for a person to go over glasses with me. I had brought a set of frames with me I liked and wanted any new lenses put in with the frames refitted to me.
What do you think they quoted me for just the lenses to be put in my own frames? Hold on to something … $920 for the basic / standard lens and $1160 for the preferred / premium lens. WTF. Remember at the other eye doctor I got two pairs, two new frames with one set of lenses being fully progressive with the photo gray sunglass thing with computer anti-glare for $650.
I did not buy the new lenses. I told them I needed to think on it, and I did not schedule a new appointment next year as they pushed me to do. I talk to Ron on the way home how I felt very pressured to have the cataract surgery and reminded him how they were pushing him to schedule his right way. They had sent me a video on it before they even examined me, and I felt the exam I got was less than our other doctor did.
So I am going to see if our other eye doctor is still seeing patients and if so we will both get exams, and as I already know I will need glasses I will get them there. But also I wanted everyone to know why I have not been doing much online, I am struggling more than normal to see everything. Best wishes, hugs, Scottie
Scottie's Playtime 
I finally had my cataracts removed last year. the first visit scared the crap out of me and I needed major antianxiety meds before they could touch me. three weeks later had the second eye done, and was totally calm. It took me having to give up driving, then reading!!!!! before I could get the nerve to go through with some quack using a knife on my eye. I’d say the docs you went to for this exam were in it for whatever they could get out of you instead of what was in your best interest. go back to your old doctor, and have him/her make a referral if the surgery is that necessary. as for scaring..it is more than likely scaring of the cornea which is normal with cataracts.
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Hi Suze. Thank you. My old eye doctor sold his business to a big chain here, and it looks like he retired and they closed his building … temporarily. So that is out. I have been asking around, and today during my allergy shots the nurse and I were talking about it, she was stunned at the cost. She gave me a few places to try. She got her new glasses for $99.00. I will look around, see what I can find for a new eye exam and new glasses costs. Hugs. Scottie
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I had (and continue to have) a super good experience related to my cataract surgery! The doctor came highly recommended and was extremely competent. He thoroughly explained the procedure so I was totally relaxed.
The best part was that I had vision-correcting lens put in so now I don’t need glasses or contacts! Medicare covered the surgery, but of course I had to pay for the special lenses.
My other-half had cataract surgery on one eye through the VA a few years back. Couldn’t you do the same, Scottie?
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Hi Nan. I have been out of the VA system for years. I could go see if I am still eligible, I assume so. I left because the system here in Fort Myers was way overloaded timely appointments were not happening and the quality of care was much worse than when I was in West Palm Beach. Then after I left they opened a new large facility here in the town I live in. But Nan, the VA is always so underfunded. But I will look into the options, I can not even think about paying over $1,100 for lenses in my own frame. Hugs. Scottie
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Do you have a nearby Costco? Ours has an “Optometric Physician” (I believe this may be a step up from a regular Optometrist, but I’m not sure), as well as an Optical Department. I use both and have been very satisfied in both care and pricing. Even if you have to drive a bit, it might be worth looking into.
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Hi Nan. Seen this just as I was shutting down to go to bed. For some reason I am beat / beaten up today, after I got home from my shots I even went to bed for a while. Did manage to doze a bit.
We do have a nearby Costco, Bj’s club, and a Sam’s club. But when we stopped eating so heavy, we let our memberships drop. The nurse that gave me my shots today suggested the same thing, Costco’s. Do you have to be members to use the service? Last time I think it cost us like $60 dollars to join as a family, but I forget the details. Thanks for the suggestions. I am off to bed. Hugs. Scottie
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Yes, $60 is for basic membership and includes one family member (they call it a “household” card). Personally, even though we don’t buy a WHOLE lot from Costco, the few things we do get are well worth the membership. And this goes beyond food items. Plus, as I said, my eye doctor is there. 🙂 AND I get my Rxs from their pharmacy.
In one of my past lives (when I lived in California), I had access to Sam’s Club as well but I’ve always preferred Costco. Never lived near a BJ’s. Anyway, I definitely think you should look into it. AND the VA since your cost through them would be $0.
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Hi Nan. Thank you. I will show Ron your comment. However while visits to the VA were free, the medication did cost the normal rate. As I said, the area around us has been built up so fast, we now have all those in easy driving range. It is getting to be like when we were in WPB but without the four and five lane wide roads. Right now, Ron is making sloppy Joe’s and a small salad for me, so I can eat and go to bed. I have been very tired and worn out all day. Hugs. Scottie
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