It’s all about the details
I spoke earlier this year about the eye surgery I had scheduled with a reputable eye surgeon in the Seattle area. The procedure is called Phacemulsification (small incision cataract surgery) with prescription lens correction. Originally, this was scheduled in August 2022. About a month prior to surgery, my surgeon’s office called to inform me the lenses he had requested from the manufacturer would not be available until “winter”. They rescheduled my surgery for December 21st in hopes the lens would be available.
I heard from him again in November. The manufacturer indicated the lenses would not be available and they had no new deadlines to report. It could be summer 2023 or never.
Anyone who’s had severely poor eyesight understands the fear of total vision loss. We’ve been chasing perfect eyesight and spending oodles of money on correction. I’ve likely spent well over $25,000 over my lifetime on glasses, contacts, prescriptions, co-pays. I can’t imagine what would have happened had I NOT had vision insurance coverage!
Another conversation with my surgeon was necessary, as well as communication with his office and my FSA provider to figure out my next steps.
Do I wait until the perfect lenses are released?
If so, how long do I wait?
How will not moving forward affect my FSA money since nearly $2,200 would be lost for 2022 and possibly $2,900 for 2023!
Or, do I move forward with the best possible lens option and start living my better life?
In the end, I decided to move forward. I made calls to my people, talked about it with Dave and I believe this is the best solution. Because the upgraded lenses, the family and I are on the hook for close to $6,000, much of that is already wrapped up in a FSA account. $2,700 for 2022 and $2,900 for 2023. Only $500 would roll over into 2023, and with the timing now at the end of the year, we are up against a ticking clock. More importantly … I am ready to start living my best life NOW!
So many of my vision professionals agree that this surgery is life-changing! I have a difficult time even imagining what it will be like to open my eyes and see clearly, or just see! No more panicking when my glasses accidentally fall off the bedside table, or forgetting to bring extra contacts on trips, forgetting solution or contact cases or glasses, dry eyes, dirty contacts, running out of contacts, eye injuries. I have never been able to be in water or splashing water on my face without losing lenses and everyone in my life fears me driving at night (often hanging on for dear life!)
I have chosen contacts focused on distance, since that was taken from me at the age of 6 or 7. According to the surgeon, with the lenses we’ve now agreed upon, I should see distance at 20/20 and only need reading glasses for small print up close. Since I’ve been wearing readers for even watching TV ON TOP OF my current contact prescription, I’ve decided not to wait for this new life. On the plus side, given the separate surgery dates, I will be able to use FSA funds for each eye, Left eye will take the 2022 funds and the Right eye will take the 2023 funds. Additionally, the change in lens type will cost a total of $2,000 less than originally budgeted.
While I’m nervous about the surgery, the countdown is a struggle! These next 9 days are going to be the longest of my life! It started to sink in when I realized tomorrow will be the last day I will ever need to wear a contact in my Left eye. Like EVER! One week prior to surgery, I am required to stop wearing my contacts (and make up … ugh) in order to give my eyes a rest. Following that surgery, I will be allowed to wear my Right contact for a week, and then on 12/28 I will stop wearing that contact and be running around my house in a pair of glasses with the lens removed from the Left side - so yeah - I’m staying home. LOL
Wish me luck! I’m impaneling a jury this week, so these people will get me in all my glory, although I've taken sick leave for much of my 3-week recovery. I’ll try to Blog a bit more about this process since so many people have asked for updates and my process. If I’m the ginny pig, then I’m going to move forward with bravery and fully paying attention to my feelings, surgery and outcomes.
Wish me luck and stay tuned for posts for the next week!
With love … Gabby