Vitreous Detachment Treatment Cost

Typical costs:

• Patients who experience symptoms such as bright flashes of light or an increase in floaters, typically start out with a visit to an eye doctor. The national average charge for a comprehensive eye exam is $114 for those without insurance.
• For patients with vision insurance coverage, the typical copay is $5-$35.

• An eye doctor will conduct a dilated eye examination^[3] when symptoms first occur, and then again, usually about a month after the initial exam.
• If the vitreous detachment has occurred without retinal tearing, no treatment will be necessary. In general, symptoms will become less noticeable over time, or subside completely.
• If the vitreous detachment has created a hole or tear or lead to retinal detachment, prompt treatment^[4] will be needed to prevent serious vision loss. Treatment options will depend on the type, location and extent of the tear or detachment.

• Some procedures to address minor tears, such as cryopexy, which uses a freezing probe to seal the retina, may be performed in a doctor's office, and often cost about $2,000-$5,000, depending on the extent and position of the tear, and whether there are complications. However, retinal detachments may require more complicated surgery which typically costs about $5,000-$10,000, once fees for the doctor, hospital and anesthesiologist have been included.
• For insured patients, out-of-pocket costs typically consist of a specialist copay, possibly a hospital copay of $100 or more, and coinsurance of 10%-50% for the procedure, which could reach the yearly out-of-pocket maximum. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the average hospital copay for outpatient surgery is $132 and for inpatient surgery is $232.The average coinsurance rate is 17%-18%.

• Many hospitals offer discounts of 30% of more to uninsured/cash-paying patients. At St. Joseph Hospital ^[5] in Orange, CA, for example, patients without health insurance may qualify for a 45% discount off billed charges.
• They'll also be offered an additional 10% discount if payment is made within 10 days of receiving a bill.

• The American Academy of Ophthalmology provides a database of ophthalmologists^[6] .
• The Mayo Clinic offers a list of tips^[7] to help patients prepare for a visit to the eye doctor.

1.  my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/ocular_health/hic_what_is_a_posterior_vitreous_de...
2.  www.nei.nih.gov/health/vitreous/vitreous.asp#c
3.  www.nei.nih.gov/healthyeyes/eyeexam.asp
4.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/retinal-detachment/DS00254/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
5.  www.sjo.org/Patients_Visitors/Your_Hospital_Bill/ Self_Pay_Discount_Program.aspx
6.  www.aao.org/find_eyemd.cfm
7.  www.mayoclinic.com/health/retinal-detachment/DS00254/DSECTION=preparing-for-your-a...

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