The bulletin board, which has been restricted to access by subscription only, is now open to all. Guests may read, but you must register to post. Registering with garbage information may seem like a great idea to you, but when the FDA asks how many people have complications, it does nothing to build a database that will convince them that we exist, so please be honest in your registration. YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IS NEVER SHARED WITH ANYONE ON THIS OR ANY OTHER PLANET IN ANY WAY. We respect your privacy.

The standard rules of civility apply here. VSRN tolerates NO disrespect to patients, doctors, or anyone else. Please be respectful of others when you post. Inappropriate posts will be deleted without notice, as will any kind of advertisement or solicitation.

This bulletin board is for people with complications following refractive surgery. Based on our personal experience with LASIK, PRK, RK, and other surgical vision correction procedures, VSRN neither recommends nor promotes any surgery or surgeon. If you're thinking of having refractive surgery, this is not the place to get a recommendation, so please don't ask. We do welcome family and friends of those who are living with complications — we know how difficult this can be.

RGP prosthetic lenses
If you, or someone you know, has complications from RK, LASIK, PRK, Epi-LASIK, or other similar surgeries, VSRN may be able to help you find a compassionate, caring doctor to help. Unfortunately, not everyone can be "fixed," but many people have regained clear vision with RGP (rigid gas permeable) contact lenses individually designed and fitted by expert contact lens fitters. It has been VSRN's experience that MOST doctors do not have the skill, nor the expertise to fit post-surgical corneas. If you've been fitted for contacts and they don't work, please do not give up. Chances are, they are not properly fitted, and an expert will do a better job.

Referrals and second opinions
Unfortunately, experts don't grow on trees and patients often must travel to find help. I've spent many hours over the last 41/2 years finding expert fitters all over the US. VSRN maintains this resource network and makes referrals when appropriate. If we don't have someone in your area, I try to find someone. Please email VSRN at info@visionsurgeryrehab.org to make a request for a referral. Referrals are confidential, and requests made on the bulletin board cannot be answered on the bulletin board. If you are looking for a second opinion MD, VSRN maintains a limited resource list of doctors experienced in rehab of acute physical complications from surgery. Please write us for information.

Dry eye issues
One of the most common problems reported following surgery is dry eye. Many patients who report dry eye sensation have been told that their tear function is adequate, or they've been given drops that don't work. VSRN offers some suggestions for dealing with dry eye, and I am currently researching doctors for expert dry eye treatment throughout the US. To read about dry eye and treatment, see this post on dry eyes in the Complications/Dry Eye/Pain forums.

And last, but not least, this bulletin board is intended to be helpful and hopeful. If you have had success with treating your complications, please post and let others know that there is hope. If you have a personal story you'd like to share, please go to the Eye Openers section and post it there. Our shared experiences are a valuable asset to others. Simply getting validation that our problems are REAL, not "all in our heads," or because we are "too picky" about our vision, can go a long way in helping us to deal with them.

We hope you find this bulletin board helpful.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: artistwoman,