Astigmatism and Cataract Patients May Benefit from a New Medicare Rule

People with astigmatism and cataracts may benefit from a new Medicare rule extending coverage for the new type of implantable lenses that treat both the conditions.

Astigmatism, one of the most common vision problems, causes blurry vision due to irregularly shaped cornea. Cataracts cause cloudy vision and are more common as we age.

Cataracts can sometimes be fixed by replacing the damaged natural lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. Intraocular lenses allow ophthalmologists to use one lens to fix both the cataract and astigmatism, improving distance vision and reducing dependence on glasses.

The new rules allow patients to get the specialized implantable lenses with Medicare covering the cost of the cataract surgery and part of the cost of the lens. The patient is billed for the remaining uncovered costs of the lens and surgery. The new rules are similar to existing rules that allow patients to pay a premium for implantable lenses to fix cataracts and presbyopia, a common condition after 40 that makes it hard to focus on nearby items.

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Astigmatism and Cataract Patients May Benefit from a New Medicare Rule