Lori S. Snyder, MD
Home | Contact Us | Sitemap
 

Laser Cataract Information

CATARACTS are a common condition in which the normally clear lens of the eye becomes increasingly cloudy, resulting in decreased distance and reading vision and glare with sunlight or headlights. You may notice your vision is fuzzy or cloudy and colors appear muted or dull.
Location:
Dr. Chung operates at the Haymarket Surgery Center (15195 Heathcote Blvd., Haymarket, VA) which is attached to the Haymarket Medical Center. He operates every Tuesday and some Thursdays, mostly in the morning.

Anesthesia:
Monitored Anesthesia Care (not general anesthesia) is used for cataract surgery. You may not drive for 24 hours after having anesthesia. Therefore, you are required to have a responsible adult drive you to surgery and bring you home afterwards. In the event you have an adverse reaction to the anesthesia, someone should stay with you at home following surgery up until your follow-up appointment the next morning. Someone should drive you to an early morning (between 8 and 8:45 am) follow-up appointment at Dr. Chung’s office the day after surgery.

Preoperative Clearance:
A preoperative clearance and EKG with your primary care provider within 30 days of the scheduled surgery is required by the anesthesiologist. You will be given a time frame to schedule an appointment with your primary care provider and a form to take with you to that appointment so your provider has the necessary information to perform the preoperative evaluation and where to send it once completed. You do not have to bring anything back to the office after seeing your primary care provider.

Eye drops:
You will use drops before and after surgery. The prescriptions will be sent to your local pharmacy approximately a week before surgery. Your pharmacy will let you know when the prescriptions are ready. The written instructions are provided in the surgery packet that you will receive.

Restrictions:
  • No Driving, alcoholic beverages or important decisions for 24 hours.
  • No bending towards your feet for ONE week. To pick something up, bend your knees and keep your head above your shoulders to avoid blood rushing to your head.
  • No straining (pulling on difficult garments and lifting or pushing anything over 20 pounds) for ONE week. If you are coughing, vomiting, or constipated, call our office RIGHT AWAY.
  • No squeezing your eyelids tightly together for ONE week (this puts pressure on the eye) while laughing, crying, talking, sneezing, coughing or after using eyedrops.
  • Taking a shower is fine after 24 hours. Be cautious to avoid soap or shampoo in your eyes.
  • No Golf for ONE week.
  • No long-distance travel (plane, train or car) for two weeks after surgery.
  • No make-up (eye make-up, mascara, powders or foundation) for at least two weeks after surgery.
  • No Swimming for 3 weeks.

Dr. Chung has been performing cataract surgery for over 20 years. He utilizes both a traditional method and a laser-assisted approach to cataract surgery.

Traditional cataract surgery is covered by most insurance plans.

The laser-assisted (Catalys) portion of surgery is NOT COVERED by any insurance (Medicare or commercial). The cost for the laser-assisted portion is $1,500 per eye with two payment options available

INSURANCE COVERAGE AND POTENTIAL OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES FOR CATARACT SURGERY

There will be THREE separate charges submitted to your insurance(s) company for cataract surgery: surgeon’s fee, anesthesia and surgery center fee

If Medicare is your primary insurance, 80% of the fees will be covered if you have met your deductible. If you have a secondary, the additional 20% is usually covered by your secondary. There are some secondary insurance companies that have a deductible as well. If you are uncertain about your secondary coverage, call the number on the back of your card.

If you have a commercial or non-Medicare insurance, for confirmation of coverage, call the number on the back of your card and provide the representative with the two procedure codes that are used for cataract surgery:

CPT or Procedure Codes: 66984 and 66982
 
 

Catalys Laser Video

Click the play button below to learn more about Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery.


© Gainesville Eye Associates. All Rights Reserved