If I had one wish it would be...TO HAVE MY OLD EYES BACK.
My nightmare began in January 2000, when I entered an eye institute to take a friend that was having her scheduled lasik eye surgery.
While the surgery was being performed, I decided to have my eyes tested to see if I might be a candidate. I have always loved to play golf and tennis and hated the inconvenience of glasses falling off of me when it was hot and was trying to concentrate on the ball. After my exam, which was done by an optometrist, I was told I wouldn't be a candidate for mono vision lasik because I had too much stigmatism. He also stated he would need to have a conference with the surgeon about my left eye. He didn't indicate why. I went back to the waiting room and it was here that I received the "hard sell" talk from a newly hired receptionist. "It would only cost me $3,400 rather than the normal fee if I signed up now." I was also told they were overbooked at the time.
I went ahead and scheduled my surgery and then waited for a personal phone call from the eye surgeon. After making 4 calls to the doctor, I was finally called by a hurried surgeon two days before my scheduled surgery. I remember asking him if he had seen my records that had been done at the pre-screening meeting. He stated, "Yes, and I was a fine candidate in both eyes for the lasik surgery." Some of my thoughts at this moment were....Did he really have a conference about my case with the pre-screening optometrist? Did he even look at my records? Why wasn't I meeting with him in person before the surgery? What was the possible problem in my left eye?
Although I had these red flags, my positive thoughts were.....Doctors are credible, after all, my own now deceased father was in the medical profession. I could finally afford this surgery after saving some money and I liked the idea that this doctor was a little cheaper than some. I rationalized that I needed to do something nice for myself. I had also started dating a very handsome man after a painful divorce. I didn't want him to ever see me in glasses (How stupid! We are no longer dating!!) The location of this surgeon was great... I wouldn't have to drive in heavy traffic.
On January 6, 2000 lasik surgery was performed on both of my eyes. The next day, I felt that I had a broken piece of glass in my left eye and it was burning. I thought maybe this was normal. (I had taken a 4-day leave from work just to be safe.)
At the insistence of others, I went back to see the surgeon the day after surgery. He said my flap had not sealed. He lifted the flap and irrigated it. (PAINFUL!!) I continued to see the surgeon the following day. I then was seen by another doctor who was a "fellowship" intern while my original doctor was in Mexico. I remember feeling uneasy that my doctor was away since he had performed the surgery. I continued to see the doctor with no improvement in my vision. On February 23, 2000 I met with a cornea specialist at my original doctor's request. I assumed they were friends. I filled out my paperwork and made sure to tell the bookkeeper not to bill me. I was a referral and assumed the ongoing expenses would be my "botched up" surgeon's problem.
When I saw this now new doctor, I remember him shaking his head in a negative manner as he looked at my eye. His technician also mentioned to me (not in the presence of the doctor) that they took all of his messes. It was at this point I felt fearful I had gone to the wrong doctor.
My new doctor's exam revealed that he didn't think there was any epithelium ingrowth or infection. He would follow my progress for a while and then return me to my original surgeon. He felt my eye problem (I never really know what that was) would be a slow healing process.
The next day, I returned to my first doctor's office and informed him I didn't want to be under the cornea specialist care. The distance to his office was too far to drive by myself, as my vision was impaired. He continued to see me for another two weeks. I remember one conversation we had during this time, which I felt was so unprofessional. I asked him why his optometrist that did my pre-screening felt I might not be a good candidate in my left eye. His exact words were...." Dr. ____ eats too much garlic and doesn't know what he's talking about". He just laughed and implied that this optometrist wasn't very knowledgeable about eye conditions.
It should be noted I have since met with this pre-screening optometrist who no longer works for the surgeon. I took my original records to him and asked him if he had a conference about my case. He stated that he only pre-screens and turns the information over to the surgeon. "The surgeon is the one who makes the final decision." It was his opinion that my cornea depth measurement was okay at 523 microns, and pupil size okay. The only questionable part was the amount of astigmatism I had in my left eye.
When I saw my original surgeon another time, he rushed into the room with his cell phone. (I had waited for two weeks to see him with great hopes of good news about my eye condition). He told the person on his cell phone that he would meet them for lunch in five minutes. I know then I would be given the brush off as I felt his luncheon appointment was far more important than my ongoing eye problem. I also did not appreciate hearing about his personal airplane excursions. I wanted his FOCUSED ATTENTION ONLY on my eye. He seemed to talk constantly about wanting to be the first doctor in Colorado to perform LTK (laser thermal keratoplasty) to correct farsightedness. He was on a total HIGH about this procedure. I kept thinking but was afraid to say to him... forget this new technology that would probably bring huge profits to him. What about the botched eye problems with me? He would only draw pictures of my present eye condition and talk in "mumbo jumbo" terms. I always had an uneasy feeling he really didn't know what was going on with my eye problem.
Oh yes...another comment he said to me when asked if he had ever had problem. "No, you are the first and you are on in a billion that has had complications. It's just an act of God which I have no control."
I continued to have short office visits with this doctor, until he informed me, through his technician, that he would no longer be handling my case and I ONCE AGAIN was under the cornea specialist's care. His technician also offered to give me back partial payment for the eye that didn't work. I refused!!!
My cornea specialist finally removed the flap which had never sealed. (PAIN, PAIN, PAIN). He sent the flap to get a pathology report and there was no staph infection. I was billed for the pathology report which I paid.
After 8 months of this ongoing nightmare, it was decided by this specialist that I needed a cornea transplant. He would perform the surgery when an eye donor was available.
My only insurance was with Kaiser Permanente so I now had a new doctor. She sent me to other eye physicians hoping a contact or partial transplant would work. On August 17, 2000 I received a full cornea transplant. I'm very grateful for the eye donor but am very discouraged with the still slow results. (One year is a long time to wait when your eye feels lousy hourly). A month ago, it was necessary for me to have a cataract removed which had now formed on the cornea transplant. (Another surgery, time off from work, etc. etc.) I'm told a secondary cataract has now formed. This procedure will be done in September with a laser. This process can be done in an office visit.
I know I will never have 20/20 vision again, even with glasses.
I still experience daily nausea, dizziness, and an off balance awareness. Bright lights bother me. I no longer make left hand turns while driving and no longer drive at night. The lights of an oncoming car are almost blinding. Reading a book, magazine, or newspaper is almost impossible because my eyes are so dry plus sting, burn, and get too tired after reading a few pages. I can no longer look into a computer. (My friend is typing this for me on her computer). Even the breeze from a fan bothers me.
My close-up vision has been drastically changed. I was told after the lasik procedure I would need to wear reading glasses. I thought that meant the little granny half glasses that after age 40 people need. Without glasses I can't distinguish what is on a plate of food. My great love of golf and tennis has now totally stopped. I'm just too dizzy, off balance, and can't see the ball. I never went back for the "enhancement procedure" or "fine tuning" in my good eye. I'd be too terrified to have more lasik done so don't even have 20/20/ in the good eye.
Some of the emotional feelings I have experience during this nightmare are hopelessness, extreme depression, pain, anger, stupidity, and abandonment. My greatest fear, as I age, is becoming incapacitated due to my poor vision. The potential long-term effects scare me.
I'm so glad to know about surgicaleyes.com. I had never heard about it until two weeks ago when I decided to go public with the media. I've just met with The Denver Post and hope they will tell my story. More people need to know the many complications that can arise. I thought I was the only one. (It was great seeing the ABC news special on June 28th on television.)
It was my earlier intention not to sue for malpractice but as I incurred more medical bills and additional loss of time from work (I'm self-employed) I decided that is what I needed to do.
I found a lawyer who had lasik surgery with great results. He informed me that it was hard to sue in Colorado since all doctors support each other. He sent my case to a University of California highly respected eye specialist for his opinion. He felt there was a "deviation from the standard of care" in my case. If I had been treated appropriately and followed more professionally, I should not have had to undergo a cornea transplant. I was also told by my lawyer that he had another client that was having problems with her eyes. I met with this person and she revealed her HORROR story while under my SAME DOCTOR'S CARE!! She was told by a well-known eye surgeon that she could have lost her eyesight had she not gotten to him in time.
The final blow came when my lawyer decided he would not represent me as he felt he wouldn't win the case. He also informed me that after the case was over it could cost me upwards of $50,000 out of my own pocket (even though he was doing it on a contingency basis). So far I've paid him $450. for a telephone conference with the expert witness in California. I understand the statute of limitations applicable to medical malpractice claims is 2 years. This means I must file a civil lawsuit by January 5, 2002 or else my claim will be forever barred by the statute of limitations.
I'm drained by this and have just given up. I have no money and it seems all lawyers want some money in advance. I have a $2,000 outstanding bill from the cornea specialist. I guess he will just have to put a lien on my house. I don't care!
If anyone would care to write to me, I'd be happy to respond. Since I don't own a computer and can't see anyway, the only means of communication will be a letter. (Or you can email my friend at: normab@home.com and she will pass it on to me).
My name is: Jan McKay
18324 E. Bethany Place
Aurora, CO 80013
P.S. Good luck to all of you!
P.S.S. Oh yes....8 years ago I had a brain tumor removed which caused me to have some hearing loss. I also have a nasal problem so can't breathe well, and now I CAN'T SEE! My senses are now lousy but my teeth are good! I'm 57 and it's a bitch getting old!!
normab@home.com