What was it like to have a Cataract operation in Thailand

[KhunBENQ]

6 hours ago, JoePai said:

had been practicing there for over 12 years

 

I'm always a little worried when I read the word 'practicing' - does that mean they are not perfect ?

 

?

I am not a native speaker but this sounds like a perfect analog word like in German.

And it says that he is "practicing" at his doctor's office/practice (differences in British/US English also).

Doctors don't work, they practice, that's my understanding.

[KhunBENQ]

12 hours ago, webfact said:

Other friends had had super sight procedures at local private hospitals which were successful, however at THB200,000 that was way over my budget.

Friend from Jomtien paid 150'000 at Bangkok Hospital for multi-focal plus laser (included?).

He is not rich and wish he would seek advice before running to the cash drain again.

German guy living in Udon was quoted 85'000 for monofocal.

He went to Khon Kaen RAM (still considered expensive private one) and paid 50'000.

Edited March 9, 2022 by KhunBENQ

[doctormann]

21 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Friend from Jomtien paid 150'000 at Bangkok Hospital for multi-focal plus laser (included?).

He is not rich and wish he would seek advice before running to the cash drain again.

German guy living in Udon was quoted 85'000 for monofocal.

He went to Khon Kaen RAM (still considered expensive private one) and paid 50'000.

Interestingly, Jomtien Hospital, where I am in the midst of having cataract surgery - one eye done and one to go - is actually part of the Bangkok Hospital Group but, for some reason, seem to have a different pricing policy and are much more reasonable.  My ophthalmic surgeon works at both places.

 

I was actually sent to the main Bangkok Hospital in Pattaya to have a thorough eye examination and for the replacement lenses to be specified.  The cost for this was additional to the 39,000 Baht surgical cost but still very reasonable at about 1500 Baht.  The RT-PCR pre-op tests were free.  I've just had my second one today, prior to my upcoming surgery on Friday.

[JimmyJ]

Would be helpful and appreciated if people who rate their eye surgeon highly would follow up post and name the doctor.

 

 

 

[doctormann]

3 minutes ago, JimmyJ said:

Would be helpful and appreciated if people who rate their eye surgeon highly would follow up post and name the doctor.

 

 

 

Jittapan Chureegnon, M.D.  is the surgeon who is fixing my eyes at Jomtien.

[Onerak]

9 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

I am not sure if the supplemental private insurance is a Medicare Advantage

Do you know any Medicare Advantage plan that covers outside USA? Would enroll next year and looking for best Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks.

[unblocktheplanet]

Rutnin is my eye hospital, too. Fine print was getting difficult & blurry vision on waking. No black areas in vision but my intraocular pressure is up which could signal the start of glaucoma. No real easy fix for that.

[Sheryl]

47 minutes ago, Onerak said:

Do you know any Medicare Advantage plan that covers outside USA? Would enroll next year and looking for best Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks.

1. You cannot get a Medicare Advantage Plan unless you are resident in the Plan area (not just the USA, but the state or even county the plan covers) for at least 6 months of the year.

 

2. None of the Medicare Advantage Plans open to the general public cover care overseas.

[Onerak]

41 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

You cannot get a Medicare Advantage Plan unless you are resident in the Plan area (not just the USA, but the state or even county the plan covers) for at least 6 months of the year.

I stay in Thailand for less than 6 months a year. But I have two residences in the USA - in IL and Las Vegas. How would they know where do I stay in the USA? My current health insurance (UHC PPO) does not have any restrictions in the USA. I am not a medicare recipient right now but will be eligible next month. 

[NanLaew]

10 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Unless a pre-existing condition at the time the policy was issued, I do not know of any that would not cover cataract surgery and other treatment of eye diseases.

Pacific Cross don't cover elective cataract surgery. They also don't cover non-elective cataract surgery such as having an IOL implant after retinal detachment surgery.

[Sheryl]

5 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

Pacific Cross don't cover elective cataract surgery. They also don't cover non-elective cataract surgery such as having an IOL implant after retinal detachment surgery.

I am sure they do cover medically necessary cataract removal.

 

IOL implant after retinal detachment is not cataract surgery.

 

I think you are confusing cataract surgery with surgery for purposes of refraction correction, which is indeed elective and which no insurer covers.

[sharecropper]

Aged 59, I had my left eye done at Samitivej Sri Racha Hospital a year ago. Cost me @ 40,000 baht. No complaints at all with the procedure and the result was fantastic. I had a mono focal lens fitted.

 

Although I might go to Jomtien Hospital if their pricing is so reasonable, if another one is needed, as it's 5 minutes away. For some reason i have just dismissed Jomtien Hospital as another ripoff Bangkok Pattaya Hospital, so I was interested to read the previous poster's comments on his op and reasonable price above.

[Sheryl]

7 minutes ago, Onerak said:

I stay in Thailand for less than 6 months a year. But I have two residences in the USA - in IL and Las Vegas. How would they know where do I stay in the USA? My current health insurance (UHC PPO) does not have any restrictions in the USA. I am not a medicare recipient right now but will be eligible next month. 

Medicare Advantage Plans are state - and sometimes even county - specific. You have to sign an attestation as to where you live to get it, and lying on this is considered fraud.  In addition, coverage is often limited to the location you stated you live in (for more than 6 months of the year) except in emergency. 

[kokopelli]

I recently had cataract surgery in both eyes in the USA and not sure if it was worth the effort.  Complicating matters is I have wet macular degeneration in both eyes!  It has been 5 to 7 weeks since the surgery and still using eye drops for at least another week.

Had to get new glasses but the doctor made an error on the prescription so had to have the glasses redone in one eye. Hope they come soon as I leave for Thailand in 4 days.

 

[it is what it is]

16 minutes ago, kokopelli said:

I recently had cataract surgery in both eyes in the USA and not sure if it was worth the effort.  Complicating matters is I have wet macular degeneration in both eyes!  It has been 5 to 7 weeks since the surgery and still using eye drops for at least another week.

Had to get new glasses but the doctor made an error on the prescription so had to have the glasses redone in one eye. Hope they come soon as I leave for Thailand in 4 days.

 

 

sounds like you were mis-diagnosed and given unnecessary surgery... my mother and several of her friends have had cataract surgery and all have been amazed by the improvement in their vision and lives.

[ivor bigun]

11 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Rutnin is my eye hospital, too. Fine print was getting difficult & blurry vision on waking. No black areas in vision but my intraocular pressure is up which could signal the start of glaucoma. No real easy fix for that.

ganfort eye drops ,kept my pressure normal for years ,expensive here especially in a private hospital ,about 780 baht for one month in Queen Sirakit govt hospital

[lopburi3]

11 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Rutnin is my eye hospital, too. Fine print was getting difficult & blurry vision on waking. No black areas in vision but my intraocular pressure is up which could signal the start of glaucoma. No real easy fix for that.

Actually there are eye drops designed to control intraocular pressure that work well for many of us with glaucoma.  You should have a CVFT to check for glaucoma if not already done - not expensive and simple press when you see the dot system but can give you a heads up if have issues.

[Red Forever]

Dr Sima in Ubon Ratchatani did cataract operation on my left eye.

I was told to attend clinic at 1600hrs. Apply drops for 4hrs prior to operation which took 15 mins. Returned next day for check.

All ok, told to return in a week.

Returned for check, all ok.

No hospitalisation. No discomfort.

Cost 25,500baht.

[ericthai]

13 hours ago, Onerak said:

Do you know any Medicare Advantage plan that covers outside USA? Would enroll next year and looking for best Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks.

yes, there are MA plans that cover outside the USA. However, any coverage outside the USA would be for emergency care only. 

 

if you send me a pm with your zip code and I can let you know if there are any plans in your area with coverage outside of the USA

[ericthai]

23 hours ago, wwest5829 said:

I am not sure if the supplemental private insurance is a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Medigap policy. It is provided as a retirement benefit. It covers up to $5000 per year for care outside the US.

You’re most likely on a medigap policy as most employer retirement  benefits provide this type of coverage. As long as it costs you nothing never let anyone talk you into changing. 

[ericthai]

12 hours ago, Sheryl said:

1. You cannot get a Medicare Advantage Plan unless you are resident in the Plan area (not just the USA, but the state or even county the plan covers) for at least 6 months of the year.

 

2. None of the Medicare Advantage Plans open to the general public cover care overseas.

Actually there are Medicare advantage plans open to the general public that cover outside the USA. Typically the coverage is up to $100,000. This is only for emergency care. I started seeing this added on plan benefits about 3-4 yrs ago.  Also it does not cover you on a cruise ship, you must be on land. 

[superal]

1 hour ago, Red Forever said:

Dr Sima in Ubon Ratchatani did cataract operation on my left eye.

I was told to attend clinic at 1600hrs. Apply drops for 4hrs prior to operation which took 15 mins. Returned next day for check.

All ok, told to return in a week.

Returned for check, all ok.

No hospitalisation. No discomfort.

Cost 25,500baht.

You did not have an injection prior to the operation ? because the author of this topic , Mike Bridge , is the only person to mention that .  The 25,500 baht was a good deal . Were the results good ? Was it the University hospital in Ubon or a private clinic and how long ago was the op ? Did you stay in  a hotel in Ubon for the 1 week interim check-up ?  In the UK , where I had my first op , the check-up came after 1 month post op and is carried out by an independent clinic of your choice but having said that the operating clinic tell you to report back at any time , if you have any problems .

[wwest5829]

14 hours ago, Onerak said:

Do you know any Medicare Advantage plan that covers outside USA? Would enroll next year and looking for best Medicare Advantage plan. Thanks.

Sorry, I do not know what is publicly available. I only can address my own situation.

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, superal said:

You did not have an injection prior to the operation ? because the author of this topic , Mike Bridge , is the only person to mention that . 

 

There is always an injection to block nerves immediately before a cataract operation, unless it is done under general anesthesia (which is rare).

 

The injection is done in the OR itself so people may not think to mention it.

[Sheryl]

3 hours ago, ericthai said:

Actually there are Medicare advantage plans open to the general public that cover outside the USA. Typically the coverage is up to $100,000. This is only for emergency care. I started seeing this added on plan benefits about 3-4 yrs ago.  Also it does not cover you on a cruise ship, you must be on land. 

 Emergency care and during trips of specified short duration (typically 30 days).

 

The poster asking this lives in Thailand >6 months of the year.  He is not going to be able to get the cover he needs via Medicare Advantage. (He also does nto legally qualify for Medicare Advnatage given that he is in the US less than 6 months a year).

[rott]

My operation here was problem free and successful. The only problem was that for some reason an overnight stay was required and every 2 hours two nurses came and checked my blood pressure etc. By 6 am this has worn very, very thin. Luckily I was out before 10 otherwise I could have been shouting, screaming and throwing things around. 

That was 8 years ago, possibly they have moved into the new millennium. 

[NanLaew]

15 hours ago, Sheryl said:

I am sure they do cover medically necessary cataract removal.

 

IOL implant after retinal detachment is not cataract surgery.

 

I think you are confusing cataract surgery with surgery for purposes of refraction correction, which is indeed elective and which no insurer covers.

Apologies for not being clearer.

 

The IOL implant was done concurrently with my retinal PPV surgery at the recommendation of the opthalmic surgeon. Despite having no significantly measurable cataracts in either eye, the ophthalmic surgeon said it was medically necessary as the PPV procedure is highly likely to induce a cataract in the natural lens in the next year or so. Despite medical literature agreeing with my surgeon that PPV surgery is likely to induce a cataract, the Insurers still declined.

 

My PC insurance policy does not offer any caveats to their universal exclusion of cataract surgery.

 

YMMV.

[superal]

2 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

There is always an injection to block nerves immediately before a cataract operation, unless it is done under general anesthesia (which is rare).

 

The injection is done in the OR itself so people may not think to mention it.

I never had an injection , only a series of numbing eye drops . So an injection is not always given although it can be and that is up to the surgeon .  Quoted from link below . My operation was carried out by a dedicated UK eye hospital 

 

Cataract Surgery - Oxford University Hospitals

https://www.ouh.nhs.uk › files › 34212Pcataract

          

[bert bloggs]

3 hours ago, rott said:

My operation here was problem free and successful. The only problem was that for some reason an overnight stay was required and every 2 hours two nurses came and checked my blood pressure etc. By 6 am this has worn very, very thin. Luckily I was out before 10 otherwise I could have been shouting, screaming and throwing things around. 

That was 8 years ago, possibly they have moved into the new millennium. 

You wish ,they expect you to stay in overnight,even in govt hosspitals,20 yrs ago i had an angiogram in the U k arrived ,hour later had it done ,stay in hospital few hours then get driven home( actually drove home myself)

Govt hospital here go in in aft ,stay overnight ,next day operation , must not leave bed for 6 hrs ,then stay another night,leave miday on 3rd day , why? Lol

[unblocktheplanet]

11 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

Actually there are eye drops designed to control intraocular pressure that work well for many of us with glaucoma.  You should have a CVFT to check for glaucoma if not already done - not expensive and simple press when you see the dot system but can give you a heads up if have issues.

Thanks for this. I'm reading up (while I can still see!). Had B4250 of tests plus B1750 for follow-up. Both IOP tests were done at noon a month apart. Guidelines are to test IOP on different days at different times; that's next. So far just blurry vision, esp in early morning & can't see fine print. Glaucoma soecialist doc is good; she part-times at Rutnin but her full-time gig is at the public Monks Hospital.