Bob's Post-Lasik
I responded to an add by a doctor claiming to have performed 6,000 successful LASIK surgeries prior to mine. I was impressed by his literature which assured me that this surgery was safe. The doctor evaluated me and said I was an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery. I had myopia in both eyes (nearsighted approximately 9 diopters in the left eye, and 7.2 diopters in the right eye) I had no astigmatism's or other eye disorders.

I was concerned about some of the possible complications described in the Informed Consent form I was required to sign prior to surgery and asked questions. I was told that in rare cases, when complications occur, such complications either go away naturally in time or can be corrected by follow up "enhancements". I asked how many of the 6,000 patients had complications and was told 4, and all 4 were corrected. I was convinced that LASIK was a medical miracle and decided to have the surgery on both eyes. I believed my worse case to be a trade up to a less thick pair of glasses.

I had LASIK on both eyes on October 16, 1998.

Bad decision! My surgery was not successful. Nine months and one enhancement later I have very poor quality vision, worse than I ever could have Imagined. Without glasses, I can struggle and read the Snellen eye chart at 20/40 in my right (good) eye and 20/70 in my left eye, With glasses, I am able to achieve 20/30 in my right eye and 20/50 to 20/60 in my left eye. These eye chart readings (as bad as they seem) are deceptively good and misleading. My vision quality is even worse than the readings indicate. The chart does not measure my double vision and ghosting. I now know that the Snellen eye chart is an irrelevant method of measuring the success of LASIK surgery.

My poor vision is a handicap that prevents my from doing over 50% of the required job functions in my profession.

Initially, my doctor said my "blurred" vision would clear up in time. My vision has improved somewhat since my surgery, but my vision remains of a very poor quality compared to what I had with glasses prior to this surgery. I now regret having this surgery.

At my follow up visits, my doctor did not document the double or ghost image problems that I told him I was having. He only recorded my Snellen eye chart readings. He did not acknowledge that I had a problem. His interests appeared to be in promoting this procedure rather than solving my problem. I now know how he (and other doctors in his field) are able to report such good results. These result statistics are false and misleading.

What happened? Since my surgery, I have spent many hours researching my problem and consulting with eye specialists. Following is what I have learned.

My problem is an irregular and unnatural astigmatism in both eyes, compounded be a wrinkled flap that resulted in an unnatural vertical "ridge" at the center of my left eye. I may experience some slight additional improvement, but my vision has, for the most part stabilized. The "ridge" is what is causing my double vision and ghosting. This condition cannot be corrected with lenses. The astigmatism can be corrected somewhat with glasses and could be improved by further enhancement. But I dare not have any additional surgery until and unless I can find a method to correct the wrinkle "ridge".

Had my doctor noticed my wrinkled flap within the first two weeks of surgery, he could have lifted it, and smoothed out my cornea.

Doctors who specialize in cornea surgery all seem to be on the LASIK bandwagon. They collaborate with each other. The doctors that are doing this procedure in addition to the companies that supply the equipment and promote the procedure are making their fortunes. None of them appear to be willing to take responsibility or speak out for bad outcomes like mine.

One promising corneal laser procedure called topographically linked ablation is being experimented with by several doctors around the world. This procedure maps and then smoothes out the high spots of unnatural and irregularly shaped corneas such as mine. To date, the procedure is not approved in the USA. Of the 200 people worldwide who have had the procedure, about one-third had significant improvement, another third had some improvement, and one-third had no improvement.

I am currently researching legal recourse for my condition. I would appreciate any feedback regarding other peoples success/failures.

ArchBobG@aol.com