3 months post Lasik - I had been hoping that by now, I would have seen some healing of the corneal nerves that were severed by my surgeon during Lasik. Since that day, my life has become a nightmare:

1. Loss of contrast sensitivity - everything seems hazy and I've lost 50% of my night vision ability. Colors have all lost their vividness. Everything seems flat and washed out.
2. Loss of close up and intermediate vision - I have to carry glasses around with me everywhere. Not being able to see clearly in the close and intermeditate range has led to headaches and nausea.

3. Right eye is undercorrected - I have to wear glasses to correct for this. What the doctors don't tell you is, that when this happens you'll need an "enhancement". But it has the effect of severing the corneal nerves again!!

4. Severe, debilitating dry eye . If you think all you have to do to solve this problem is put a few drops in your eyes, think again. This kind of dry eye is torture. My eyes are constantly burning, and I have the sensation of a painful pressure on top of my eye all the time. Nothing provides relief. Some studies now report this may be a permanent side effect of Lasik.

5. Massive Glare, halo and starbursts. My pupil size was 5mm, and my ablation zone was 7.5. My OD can't explain why I have such massive higher order abberations. I can't believe I have to live the rest of my life with this condition.

6. And finally, how can I put a price tag on what I've lost? My vision was perfect before Lasik and I never thought about my eyes. I'm depressed and currently seeing a great therapist, thank God. I am not poor, so I am fortunately able to afford all the specialsts, medications, therapies, special glasses, etc. But my life feels over. Maybe I'll get better, maybe I won't. But the uncertainty is frightening.

Don't get this surgery. You're rolling the dice with your eyes. The doctors are lying about the safety about the procedure. Take the $4000 and go to Italy for 2 weeks. You'll have a lot more fun, and keep your good vision.


Previous Post:
I am 4 weeks post op and like so many others, discovered this board only after my surgery.
I am currently working with a second OD working on my severe dry eye problems, as well as glare and halos, loss of short range vision, 50% loss of night time vision and general lack of visual acuity.

My current OD confirms the fact that my first OD did a "good job" from a mechanical point of view. But it's clear that Lasik has unpredictable effect on different eyes. And since the effects are permanent and irreversible, why risk it? I know this now, But I didn't know it then.
I thought I had done my due dilligence. I researched the web, including FDA.org and many others.
My sister had Lasik, two different DJ's I employ in my business had Lasik with good results. A woman in my OD's office had it and was happy.
I thought the risks and complications I had read about couldn't happen to me. But they did. And now I tell everybody, this is essentially risky, experimental surgery that has life long consequences.

It's clear to me, that doctors are over selling Lasik and under informing and under educating their patients. My vision functionality has been reduced by 50% and I am in constant pain and discomfort. And all for "elective" surgery I didn't need in the first place. I guess I'll have to accept the vision loss. But I'm concerned about the long term consequences over what I've done. Some of the posts I've read about other people battling dry eye is worrisome to me. Good luck to everybody on the board.

[This message was edited by Scott3678 on Sun March 07 2004 at 08:12 PM.]

[This message was edited by Scott3678 on Mon March 08 2004 at 12:36 PM.]