Cataracts

[rita sherry]

Trev and Jim (Admin)

I have posted a message under "Health Topics) re my experience at the Iasis for cataract removal - cant praise the hospital enough so thank you Trev for your recommendation of Dr Maria.

Rita

[lion]

Been to see Dr Maria many times, she is so patient with me - highly recommend her - and here fees are very fair.

[Jim]

Thank you Rita many of us will or do have this complaint.

Geoff I agree about Dr Maria a good doctor and where I will eventually get mine sorted out..

[ASHTON]

Cataracts??? Get them done asap,,post op i have 20/20 vision and them niusance glasses are a thing of the past

[Alan Else]

I've had both eyes done in the UK over that last 5 months, the first was a doddle although I do get glare from vehicle and street lights at night, I had the second done 1 week ago, the procedure was painful as I had to have sutures in this time.
Distance is great from the first eye done although I will need glasses for close work, it's too early to tell how the second eye will turn out.

[Fisherman Phil]

Just a word of warning.
There are different quality lenses that can be used after a cataract is removed, so it's not always wise to go for the cheapest price offered by hospitals.

[Alan Else]

Hope I won't have that problem in the UK as mine were done on the NHS although some people I know have been quoted £3,000+.

[Fisherman Phil]

Hope I won't have that problem in the UK as mine were done on the NHS although some people I know have been quoted £3,000+.

I suspect the NHS would use a cheaper lens and the £3,000 quoted would probably be for a kind of varifocal lens.

[Jim]

Private hospitals charge here on Cyprus approximately €1.600 per eye, it is free at the General but a couple of months waiting time. This really is the interest of those who actually live here of course.

[Anarita John]

What put us off Rosemary having hers done in the UK on the NHS were a couple of things. Cheaper lenses being one of them and people having huge problems with them. Plus the waiting list. Rosemary would have been almost blind in one eye before having them done. At the time there were articles in the press about the cheaper lenses, particularly those being used by visionexpress on behalf of the NHS. We decided to have her cataracts done here in Cyprus and have bifocal lenses fitted. They are top quality German lenses, Zeis, and she no longer needs her glasses for distance or reading. She had them done in Limassol, by Dr Theodoros Potamitis, who, according to Aristis at Elean, is the top eye surgeon on the island. He also keeps an annual check on Rosemary's eyes, included in the initial price.
We also heard one horror story from someone we knew, of an NHS operation that had gone wrong.

[Jim]

The cost John?

[rita sherry]

Just returned from the Iasis after having a cataract removed from my left eye(the right eye one was removed last week as I reported). Whilst my left eye is covered at the moment the right one is absolutely brilliant and I can read etc without spectacles plus no longer the awful glare from car headlights at night. The gentleman in Limassol is indeed very good but when one is on ones own as I am the Iassis is more convenient and Dr George Papamichael from Nicosia is in my view second to none as is his able assistant Dr Maria Papadopoulou. My pharmacist Elena of Chloraka informed me yesterday her father taught Dr Papamichael and that he was his brightest pupil. I do believe the gentleman in Limassol is more expensive i.e. over 2000 euros per eye (my friend had hers done by him) but I did not choose on cost but convenience and I am more than satisfied albeit my left eye has only been done in the last hour or so. The fee of 1600 euros includes 3 follow up appointments on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of this last week and I am to go again tomorrow..

Tomorrow when my eye has rested I will give a breakdown of the fee (I have an itemised account) for any one who is interested. It has never been my intention to suggest who is or is not the best or the cheapest - eyesight to me is a very precious thing and I wanted a competent surgeon which I got. - I originally asked for recomendations and reported my satisfaction with the service I received and have again received today.

Rita

[Anarita John]

Jim, yes it was expensive, just under €2000 per eye, but we were lucky at the time with a high exchange rate. We followed the recommendations of a neighbour, who had had his done in limassol and Aristis from Elean, who originally referred Rosemary to the Iassis for diagnosis. Also, we would have had to wait until Rosemary was nearly blind in one eye to have got one done here in North Wales.

[Fisherman Phil]

I agree with Rita, it is not a question of who is the best eye surgeon, but I do believe it is a question of who uses the best lens.
The Pantheo Eye Centre use Zeiss lenses and this is why they are €300 dearer than the Iasis Hospital.

[rodie]

This is a very interesting post to me, as my husband wants to get replacement lenses. He does not qualify on the NHS (and we are very wary of the NHS for things like this) and the cost in the UK privately is really high. I have suggested he consider Cyprus as we are over four times a year, and now it seems like a very good idea. Well done CyprusLiving (again) for posting useful information, I will be following this thread with interest.

[Alan Else]

Hi Rodie, I've just had my second cataract op in the UK, which compared to the previous one in June was painful both during and after the procedure and now that I'm getting my vision back it is obvious that the two are of different strengths, If I look at say a picture on the wall using alternate eyes the picture is a different size.
Go back on Monday so see what he has to say.

[zorbathejock]

How long do you have to wait from first appointment until actual operation?

[Jim]

I asked at the Iasis private hospital and as long as there are no other medical problems almost within the same week, no waiting time at all, the General is different can take many months.