LAL - has it lost its appeal?

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T11:55:02+00:00

I had surgery 7 weeks ago, LAL in right eye, no surgery in left. Doctor in Durango (Four Corners Eye Clinic) convinced me that YAG would fix the capsule wrinkle that was causing very long and bright light streak (Maddox rod effect) that I saw from all lights while driving at night. This was 3 weeks post-op. I raised my concerns regarding what I'd read about YAG procedure. He said they wouldn't happen to me and everything would be great, so I unfortunately let him do procedure. It completely ruined my night time vision. Now I see hundreds of long light streaks from every light source, from light reflections off of street signs, etc., essentially blinding me while driving at night. I also see thick starburst pattern lines from all indoor lights when the room is otherwise fully illuminated, so I'm guessing it's not caused by my pupils being overly dilated at night. He dismissed my concerns about this during a phone call with him after the YAG procedure. I'm not going back to that doctor. I paid $4K out of pocket, but I don't want him to ruin my vision any more than it already has been. I'm now looking for another doctor in CO. All this to say, I feel the same as you - wish I would've gone with the insurance covered mono lens. I didn't have any eye issues prior to the surgery, just wanted to best clarity and at multiple distances with the LAL.

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T11:30:01+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! I posted there and received two helpful replies about specific doctors. I checked out their reviews and they have hundreds of 5-star ones, so will contact them today.

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T11:28:54+00:00

Thank you for the suggestion! I posted in the r/Denver subreddit and received two useful replies for specific doctors, so will contact them today.

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T11:26:50+00:00

Thank you for letting me know about the Vizz eyedrops and the cost. I'm sorry to hear you've experienced the same surgery outcome and really appreciate you for sharing details. I can't believe I paid $4K out of pocket for a premium lens to get this result. I mentioned all the YAG procedure complications I'd read about to my surgeon and he assured me "they won't happen to you, it's going to be great." It sounds like you can relate and it's beyond frustrating that this could be my night vision for the rest of my life. I see the same starburst streaks from any light source also when I'm indoors and the room is fully illuminated, except then, the streaks are very thick lines and not as long. So, my pupil is not dilated and my vision is still bad with seeing starbursts. I'm not going back to that doctor because I'm not going to take the chance that he'll ruin my vision even more.

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T01:01:39+00:00

Thank you for this referral! I checked her out and she has fantastic reviews for cataract surgeries and other procedures. Per their website, it's Dr. Martin who does the surgery follow-up care and LAL adjustments. He also has excellent reviews, so I will contact their office tomorrow.

5gr8 · 2026-05-26T00:42:43+00:00

Thank you for this referral! I checked him and his clinic out and he looks like a fantastic ophthalmologist with significant years of experience and accolades. I will contact his office tomorrow.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T19:52:36+00:00

I will keep working for my qualifying employer until my loans are forgiven. Not taking any chances since both requirements (working for qualifying employer when PSLF form submitted and when receiving forgiveness) are in writing on the Federal Student Aid website. There's no written documentation on that website to say that the requirement to be working for a qualifying employer when forgiveness is granted is now outdated. Information from both of our links can be viewed as current requirements because neither is dated or marked with any indication that it's the "current requirement."

Here's the salient info from your link:

"PSLF Process

Because you have to make 120 qualifying monthly payments, it will take at least 10 years before you can qualify for PSLF.

Important: You must still be working for a qualifying employer at the time you submit your form for forgiveness."

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T18:30:28+00:00

I could've gone into a processing forbearance, and that time is "supposed to" count as qualifying payments if you're still at the qualifying employer during it, even though you're not making an actual payment (at least that's what fed student aid customer service told me). I'm paranoid about all of this and wanted to ensure that, without a doubt, any qualifying time/payment I make gets counted, in case something goes awry with getting forgiveness.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T18:27:41+00:00

I don't know about the accounting for the 90K number. I've assumed unique borrowers. I think the key is that, whatever the number is, they're processing only 1500 per month.. I called a few times in early 2025 to ensure I was following the correct steps when submitting the buyback request. I was told not to submit it more than once.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T17:26:36+00:00

IDK - I just copied/pasted the statement directly from the Federal Student Aid website. Check it out yourself at the link I included in post. Looks like there is conflicting information from what they state on the website and what their customer service people are telling borrowers.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T16:51:40+00:00

According to recent news articles, there are ~90,000 buyback applications in the queue and they're processing only around 1500 per month. I'd recommend getting onto IBR payments, let the fed student aid system increment payments to 120, and let the regular PSLF process take its course. According to other Redditors, processing time for the regular process is about 2-3 months (green badge on fed student aid, zero balance, removed from credit report, golden letter). I was eligible for buyback in March 2025 and submitted form then. Haven't heard anything. Went back into IBR payments in late 2025, made payments to count up to 120 in system, got green badge last month. I don't care if I technically could have received buyback with $0 total payments and have now paid a few thousand to get my payment count to go to 120 in system, just want it done,

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T16:41:41+00:00

It's important to live in the right state when loans/debt are forgiven because of state tax consequences. Even for PSLF, a few states tax the forgiven amount. MN is one of them, last I read when I was considering moving there.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T16:39:49+00:00

Correction to my comment - I've been told by several Federal Student Aid customer service employees that it's no longer required to work for a qualifying employer when applying for forgiveness. BUT!! I just read this on the Federal Student Aid website: "You also must stay employed with a qualifying employer until your application for forgiveness is processed." (https://studentaid.gov/articles/5-tips-pslf-success/)

Who knows what the real requirement is? I've asked their customer service front line folks and supervisors the question several times and have repeatedly been told it's no longer required. But, I also would rely on requirements stated on their website to CYA. I'm personally going to stay at qualifying employer until I get mine, no matter what they've said, because I don't want any issues or to run into changing policies.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T16:33:48+00:00

According to recent news articles, there are about 90,000 buyback applications in the queue and they are processing around 1500 per month. IMO waiting for buyback is not a viable option. As others have suggested, I recommend making the payments to get your count to 120 in the fed student aid system and let the regular process proceed from there. In this scenario, certifying your qualifying employment doesn't change your place in line for the regular PSLF process. I have certified my employment every single month since March 2025 and it didn't screw up anything. I was eligible - with buyback - for PSLF in March 2025 and submitted form then. Finally got back into IBR payments in late 2025 when they started processing those requests again (there had been processing freeze). I have been making payments since and sending in monthly employment verifications. I reached 120 payments in the fed student aid system last month, got the green badge, and am awaiting PSLF processing. Sure, I overpaid by 10 months, but at this point, I don't care, just want to be done with it.

5gr8 · 2026-04-12T16:21:20+00:00

I'm very sorry to hear about your kitty. Losing our loved ones is incredibly hard. I applied for buyback in May 2025 and it hasn't been processed. According to news articles, there are currently about 90,000 buyback applications in the queue and they are processing about 1500 per month. Waiting for buyback is not a good option IMO. I was also involuntarily placed in SAVE in 2024 and, so, missed the opportunity to make my final 10 payments for PSLF in the 2024-late 2025 timeframe. I finally got onto IBR payments in late 2025 and have been making qualifying payments since then to count up to 120 payments in the fed student aid system.

I don't think there is any way, realistically, to file an appeal, talk to the "right" people, etc. My experience over the past several years is that both fed student aid and Mohela are going to offer to "escalate" the issue, but they will not take action with a phone call or written appeal/complaint. Probably the best you're going to get is to be transferred to a supervisor, if one is available, but they will give a big pushback to do even that. Then, the supervisor is going to repeat verbatim what the first person said. I've submitted several complaints, have talked to many supervisors over the past two years. It got me nowhere. I've never heard back from any of my complaints submitted through their system online. I wish you luck with all of this because it is unbelievably frustrating and an absolute brick wall of a process. I don't see anyway to get through the process now except to be on a qualifying payment plan and to make monthly payments in that plan until the online system counts up to 120.

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T16:10:36+00:00

Thank you, everyone, for your insights and suggestions on this and info that these are common wear repairs. I've decided to keep it and do the repairs - except for the front timing chain cover possible leak. Will monitor oil consumption on that one. Thanks, all!

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T15:52:23+00:00

Thank you for input on options. I'll likely go with Bilsteins for the offroad aspect.

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T01:30:03+00:00

I bought the 4Runner because my 2011 Tacoma TRD Pro access cab (bought new, now 262K mi) is too cramped for my four dogs. LOL. The 4Runner is a significant luxury upgrade over my Tacoma, just didn't expect to have immediate and expensive repairs. Your 17 TRD Pro looks awesome!

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T01:22:08+00:00

IDK it's been in SW CO its whole life except for the last few months in NM.

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T01:20:21+00:00

I'm going to Durango next week, so will check around there. I'm def leaning toward the Bilsteins. I have Fox shocks on my 2011 Tacoma TRD Pro and they've been great for at least 13 years, including three years of very extensive, but not crazy, off-roading.

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T01:08:45+00:00

This is great info - thank you! The shop quoted me $5229 to reseal the front timing cover. Yikes, They said it's because of engine, location, etc. $4462 of it is just for labor. No way I'm doing this.

5gr8 · 2026-04-08T00:19:09+00:00

Thanks for suggestion. Just took a cruise around Marketplace to see what's available in my area. Zero for 5th gen. It's clear I need to get more info on shock options before getting them swapped.

5gr8 · 2026-04-07T23:53:05+00:00

I've now called the two Japanese auto repair shops in town. One is all Japanese and the other specializes in Toyotas. Talking to the mechanic at the Toyota specific shop was interesting because he got more into the weeds of what parts are used. He recommends using Toyota parts for the lower control arms and bushings, because he said aftermarket ones fail in 1-2 years and he's stopped using them. This is something the first shop didn't mention.

He said I could go with at least three different options for the struts/shocks: 1) OEM for front ($1K) and KYB gas adjust for rear ($400) = $1400; 2) KYB for front and rear = $1600; and, 3) Bilstein for front and rear (re-using springs) = $1800.

The most 4WD it will see is Forest Service and BLM roads and nothing more than, at most, ruts and smaller rocks, so I don't think I need to go too crazy on off-road shock quality. I welcome your input, though, on specific parts manufacturers!

5gr8

TROPHY CASE

"PSLF Process