Cost of Multifocal Lens Implants

Question: What is the average out of pocket cost for the Multifocal Lens Implants? Also, is there any indication that Medicare will approve this type for payment?

Answer: There are some points of clarification that should be made regarding the cost and fees associated with Multifocal Lens Implants for Cataract Surgery. First, the correction of near vision and presbyopia-the age related near vision focusing problem is NOT a covered service under Medicare. Given that the Obama administration and Congress need to cut trillions of dollars in spending-and physician fees and services are in the cross hairs of the target-it is unlikely that ANY current non covered services will become covered services in the future and in fact it is probable that more and more of the costs of Cataract Surgery and Lens Implants will be both directly and indirectly increased for patients. Second, when considering the fees and costs of Multifocal Lens Implants, it is important to understand that the actual cost of the Lens Implant is actually only one component of the fee charged to patients. The fees for a Multifocal Lens Implant typically reflect the actual cost of the implant plus additional fees for other non covered services associated with the measurement and calculation of the more complex Lens Implant including but not limited to Corneal Topography to measure the shape of the Cornea, Corneal Pachymetry to measure the thickness of the Cornea, Ocular Coherence Tomography (OCT) to confirm the integrity of the Macula and the Retina, perhaps aberrometry, additional biometry measurements to confirm the lens power calculations which may also include as necessary the cost of astigmatism correction such as Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) or a Laser Eye Surgery procedure such as LASIK. This additional testing and its interpretation as well as the "as needed" necessity for the additional procedure is most often "bundled" into the fee charged to patients. In general to cost of these services plus the Multifocal Lens Implant itself can range in cost from $2000-$3500 per eye depending on location and the scope of what exactly is included in the fee.

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