Barbara B.
Clovis, CA
February 9, 2000

I had lasik surgery on March 1, 1999. Without a doubt this has been a truly life changing experience. I did everything right. I went to the best corneal/lasik surgeon in my area, who has performed thousands of RK, PRK, and Lasik surgeries as well as corneal transplants. I was aware of the risks. I viewed a video, was provided literature to take home and read, as well as their consent form prior to my surgery. I had plenty of time to make a decision, and I was not pressured into it. The consent form basically says "we do the work, but we don't guarantee, and there are all sorts of things that can happen-even things we haven't told you about". There were other doctors in the area that would do the surgery for less, but I was impressed with the level of professionalism demonstrated by this doctor.

My original prescription was -7 and -8 diopters. I was told that I could probably get to 20/40, and possibly 20/20. I wore gas permable contact lens for over 30 years, and had excellent correctable vision, for both distance and close-up. I was aware that I might not achieve as good of vision as my contact lens, but when you prescription is as high as mine, 20/40 without glasses is like a dream come true.

My surgery was uneventful, and my husband and I watch five other people before me have this surgery. I was corrected for close vision (monovision) in the left eye, and distance vision in the right eye (my dominant eye). When I left the eye institute I had blurred vision in both eyes. My post-op instructions were to apply four drops of Tobradex within the next 24 hours, and return in the morning at my schedule appointment time which was 18 hours later. I was informed that following the lasik procedure that I may experience blurred vision for a period of 24 to 48 hours, and that I may experience some eye discomfort similar to sand in my eye. My vision did not significantly improved through the day. Even though I had some discomfort and blurred vision I had no reason to be alarmed, as I had been told such conditions could exist for some patients. When I returned the following day my vision was 20/80 in the left eye, and I couldn't see the big E with my right eye. My doctor explained that both of the flaps had wrinkled and dislocated. The flap on my right eye had fully dislocated; the cul-de-sac had completed push over like an accordion to the hinge point at my nose.

My flaps were both repositioned immediately. I had no vision to speak of in the right eye. My flap was so wrinkled and crunched, my doctor was very concerned that an infection could set in which could cause me to go blind. My vision by this point was count fingers in the right eye, and the left eye which was corrected for close vision was also very blurry. I kid you not I know what it is like to be legally blind. My vision remained count fingers for a month with no way to correct it. Refractive Surgery Shock Syndrome (RSSS) is real. I could not believe what had happened to me! Nothing can prepare you for this emotionally. No one goes into this surgery thinking that something so devastating can happen.

During the first week, my left eye became noticeably cloudy, and the flap was lifted, repositioned, and epithelium cells were removed. I was terrified that I would go blind, as days went by when my vision did not improve. I was totally disabled, unable to read or see anything or return to work for a month. Nobody prepared me for the emotional roller coaster ride I was to experience as the weeks turned into months. I had three surgeries to lift the flap in an attempt to smooth it, and also removed epithelium cells. I can not express the amount of pain and discomfort that I experienced as a result of this complication.

Eventually my vision settled down after four months. My left eye which was corrected for close vision healed fine. I can read anything, but as expected, have no distance vision to speak of. I was not so lucky with my right eye. My cornea did not heal smoothly (even though I had it lifted and smooth), and as a result my vision was terribly distorted and double. I experience flap melt, due to the extended use of steroid drops. My best uncorrected was 20/80 with ghosting and distortion, and I could not get correctable vision out of the eye.

I was told that my right eye was fixable with a flap replacement. Nine months after my original lasik surgery I had my flap replaced, and I'm currently healing. Whether I have correctable vision I don't know at this point, and neither does my doctor.

My point is Lasik surgery is very serious stuff, and there are risks that have nothing to do with the doctor's skill or equipment. If you think that complications can't happen to you, you are wrong. If the thought of not having correctable vision as you know it today concerns you, than think twice. I did everything right. Do I regret having lasik surgery? No, I regret what happened to me. I would not wish this on my worst enemy.

Ron Link
Executive Director
The Surgical Eyes Foundation