Successful Cataract Surgery: My Mother's Story

Background

My mother lives in Romania, and we had discussed the possibility of cataract surgery several times. In September 2023, while visiting me in Budapest, she suddenly experienced eye pain. We had to seek emergency care (using her Romanian EU healthcare card for emergency treatment). At this point, it became clear that cataract surgery was necessary.

She had previously undergone examinations in Romania and received specific offers for the surgery. It's important to note that in Romania, cataract surgery is not covered by the Romanian National Health Insurance; the patient must bear 100% of the costs (although my mother, as a retired physics teacher, would be eligible for some discount).

We scheduled an appointment for a cataract surgery assessment at the "Budai Eye Center" in Budapest, which is renowned for this type of surgery and has excellent reviews.

Differences Between Romanian and Hungarian Approaches

One peculiarity of the Romanian system is that the patient must choose the lens to be implanted themselves. Although my mother received informational materials, we found it unusual that the doctors did not make a definitive recommendation. It was particularly strange that a bifocal lens was suggested as a possibility.

"During the examination in Hungary, it was discovered that one of her eyes definitely required a cylindrical lens, meaning a bifocal lens was not an option at all - contrary to the Romanian recommendation."

This difference convinced us to have the surgery performed in Hungary, especially since we would have had to pay for the procedure ourselves in both countries. We then began scheduling appointments and preparing for the surgery.

Appointment Scheduling and Preparations

Since my mother doesn't speak Hungarian, I handled the communication with the Budai Eye Center. Although it didn't require my 15+ years of project management experience, precise communication was essential. During the consultation, we received detailed instructions about what to do and what not to do before and after surgery, which was particularly important as the Christmas season was approaching, and my mother loves cooking and baking.

Unfortunately, in early November, we both caught a COVID-like illness or unusual flu in Romania. My mother was particularly affected: she developed a cold, cough, and fever. I recovered after three days of rest, but she remained in a very weakened state for about a week. In Romania, we even had to go for a special lung screening to determine why her cough wouldn't go away.

The Surgical Procedures

The clinic staff explained in detail how the surgery would proceed, what clothes to wear, the need to bring house slippers, and all other important information.

The first surgery was performed on December 6, 2023, and the second on January 24, 2024. We arrived more experienced the second time, but this procedure proved to be more difficult.

Of the two cataract surgeries, the second was more expensive as it required a cylindrical lens. This operation took longer and was more painful for my mother. On the first day, her pain was so severe that we had to call the emergency number. During the telephone consultation, we were reassured and given detailed advice. We didn't need to go to the emergency room, and everything was fine at the scheduled follow-up examination the next day.

EESZT and eRecipe Experiences

In Hungary, it is mandatory to report all healthcare services to the Electronic Health Service Space (EESZT). This is done automatically by various patient management systems (PMS), and it works for foreign patients as well.

My mother used several healthcare services in Hungary: emergency care, which required an EU card and identification, and private care, where only identification was needed. In no case did we receive paper prescriptions; eRecipes were issued in all instances. While my mother rested, I went to the pharmacy, where I could pick up the medications by providing her identification number. This system worked professionally and efficiently.

Aftercare and Healing Process

Aftercare was an extremely important part of the entire process. After both surgeries, we received precise instructions on how to use the eye drops.

After the first procedure, healing was relatively quick and problem-free. My mother noticed a significant improvement in her vision the day after surgery. However, after the second surgery, as I mentioned earlier, she experienced stronger pain, and the healing process was slower.

The follow-up examinations were extremely important. The first check-up always took place the day after surgery. Each time, a detailed examination was performed, and we observed gradual improvement in visual acuity.

Practical Advice for Other Patients

Based on our experiences, I would give the following advice to other patients and relatives in similar situations:

1. Thorough consultation: It's definitely worth getting multiple medical opinions, especially if international comparison is possible. In our case, the more precise diagnosis and therapeutic recommendation in Hungary made a convincing difference.
2. Preparation for surgery: It's advisable to acquire the necessary items for the post-surgery period (sunglasses, etc.) in advance and to organize home help for at least the first few days.
3. Presence of a companion: It's essential for someone to accompany the patient both to the surgery and to follow-up examinations (especially if there are language difficulties).
4. Strict adherence to instructions: Post-surgery instructions (use of eye drops, limitation of physical activity, etc.) must be strictly followed to ensure successful healing.
5. Patience: Complete vision improvement does not occur immediately. The final result may take several weeks to develop, especially with cylindrical lens implantation.

Long-term Results

Currently, several weeks after the surgeries, my mother's vision has significantly improved. Reading glasses are still necessary, but she no longer needs glasses for everyday activities (transportation, watching TV). This matches exactly the result predicted by the doctor.

The pre-surgery eye pain and blurred vision have completely disappeared. My mother particularly emphasizes the vividness of colors and improved perception of contrasts, which significantly enhances her quality of life.

Summary

My mother's successful cataract surgery provided several lessons:

• Differences in care: There are significant differences between Hungarian and Romanian healthcare approaches, especially in the areas of professional advice and medical decision-making.
• Importance of communication: In case of language barriers, a good liaison who helps with coordination and understanding the process is crucial.
• Flexibility: Handling unexpected health problems (such as a COVID-like illness) requires flexibility from both the patient and the healthcare provider.
• Benefits of modern healthcare systems: The EESZT and eRecipe systems greatly facilitated treatment and medication dispensing, even for a foreign citizen.
• Differences between surgeries: Operations on the two eyes can differ significantly in terms of difficulty and pain, even if performed by the same doctor.

Our positive experiences at the Budai Eye Center confirmed that we made a good decision in choosing healthcare in Hungary, despite having to cover the costs ourselves, just as we would have in Romania.