Do you need a referral to get cataract surgery?

It is necessary for you to firstly visit your GP who will decide that your cataracts require further treatment. The doctor will then provide you with a referral to see a cataract specialist. These consultations usually incur a small fee as they are not covered by Medicare.

Do all ophthalmologists do cataract surgery?

Only ophthalmologists perform cataract surgery. They are medical doctors who specialize in eye problems. They can diagnose and treat eye diseases. They also perform eye surgery.

What Dr does cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) on an outpatient basis, which means you don’t have to stay in the hospital after the surgery. Cataract surgery is very common and is generally a safe procedure.

What is the total cost of cataract surgery?

Cataract Surgery Cost. Without insurance, the average cost of cataract surgery is between $3,500 and $7,000 per eye in the United States. However, Medicare and private insurance plans often cover all, or a portion of the costs, which can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses by 80 percent or more.

How can I get a free cataract surgery?

For cataract surgery Mission Cataract USA offers free cataract surgery to people of all ages who can’t afford it. Operation Sight helps people with low incomes get cataract surgery.

Do they dilate your eyes for cataract consultation?

A cataract evaluation takes place in the office with your prospective surgeon. At this appointment, patient’s should prepare to be dilated. Eye drops are administered, causing your pupils to widen, allowing in more light, & giving your doctor a better view of the back of your eye.

How long does cataract surgery take?

The surgery takes from 15 to 20 minutes, and you should expect little or no discomfort. During the laser portion, patients describe seeing a kaleidoscope of lights and feel only slight pressure.

What is average age for cataract surgery?

In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73. However, changes in the lenses of our eyes start to affect us in our 40’s.

How can I find the best doctor for cataract surgery?

Asking your family doctor for the name of an ophthalmologist

When to consider seeing a cataract surgeon?

When to Consider Seeing a Cataract Surgeon Once some people have reached the age of 50, they develop cataracts and need to see a cataract surgeon. When the lens in the eye becomes cloudy, it is called a cataract. This condition causes a loss of vision not correctable through contact lenses, glasses, or corneal refractive surgery such as LASIK.

Who is the best doctor for cataract surgery?

An ophthalmologist is the right person to perform cataract surgery; a medical doctor specialized in diagnosing and treating the disease medically as well as surgically.

What is the best cataract surgery?

There are two types of cataract surgery : phacoemulsification (or “phaco”) and extracapsular. Of the two, phaco cataract surgery is the more advanced procedure and is more popular than extracapsular cataract surgery . Phacoemulsification is the most widely used type of cataract surgery performed in the United States.