I am a 66-year-old woman with a history of bilateral cataracts and severe myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. I wore contact lenses for many years but discontinued their use after having corneal problems. When I asked for cataract surgery at Kaiser, I was put on a long waiting list. I was called by Kaiser and told that their ophthalmologist in Lone Tree had a cancellation, so I accepted the appointment. At the consultation, the doctor was condescending and bullying in her treatment of me. I told her that I would like to see without glasses after cataract surgery. She said, "I'm not God! I can't do miracles!" When I squinted from the bright light in my eyes, she threatened that I might not be a candidate for cataract surgery. She pushed the mono-focal intraocular lens because it does not cost extra money. In retrospect, it's an easier procedure for her to do. I left the appointment feeling intimidated, discouraged, and depressed. I then cancelled my follow-up appointment with her. I would not let that doctor do surgery on my eyes. I put my name back on Kaiser's interminable cataract surgery waiting list for a different doctor.
Reading was very difficult, but I did extensive research online for the best cataract surgeon in the Denver area. I also did research on multi-focal intraocular lenses. It takes extra training and extra skill to properly insert a multi-focal intraocular lens during surgery. My research led me to Dr. Jason Jacobs at Colorado Ophthalmology Associates in Denver. There were many, many reviews online that raved about Dr. Jacobs unexcelled abilities as a cataract surgeon. The reviews said that Dr. Jacobs does miracles. Would I rather have a doctor who patients say does miracles, or a doctor who yells that she cannot do miracles? It was clear that even if I waited for a long time, Kaiser has no surgeon of the caliper of Dr. Jacobs. I determined that I would wait until we changed insurance, so that I could get Dr. Jacobs to do my surgery.
Within the year, my husband lost his job and his employer-provided Kaiser insurance. This change gave us both the necessity, and the opportunity to change our insurance. With the excellent guidance of Boomer Benefits health insurance agency in Ft. Worth Texas (See my Google review), we switched to original Medicare Part B, a Medigap Part B supplement plan, and a Part D pharmacy plan. This allows us to choose our own doctors. As soon as I received my new Medicare card, I scheduled a consultation with Dr. Jacobs. Dr. Jacobs recommended the PanOptix intraocular lens for me. Yes, this lens costs extra money that Medicare does not cover, but I have been unable to read or see well for years. I have worn thick glasses my entire life. I thought, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and this is the vision that I will have for the rest of my life. I am worth it!" I had my cataracts removed and PanOptix intraocular lenses inserted in my eyes, one week apart. The surgery was quick, easy and painless. After surgery on the first eye was completed, I became aware of how bad my vision had been. Everything I looked at with the unoperated eye looked dirty, with a smoky greyish-yellowish-brownish tint. Everything I looked at with the operated eye looked clear, bright, and colorful. The fall leaves were bright orange and yellow. The clear fall sky was a deep blue, and I love the color blue!
I gathered up my two pairs of glasses and gave them to Colorado Ophthalmology to give to the Lion's Club optical missions. Sometimes when I wake up, I open my nightstand drawer to grab my glasses, and I realize that I no longer have or need any. I have excellent distance and mid-range vision. My near vision, which is slower to come in, is improving every day. This is without glasses, something I previously could only yearn for. I persisted until I found the best cataract surgeon, Dr. Jason Jacobs. He is also a patient and kind person. I am thrilled and grateful. If you or your loved one needs cataract surgery, Dr. Jacobs is the ophthalmologist that you want. And he does, indeed, do miracles! read more