California Casualty
I had LASIK surgery in July 1998. Based on my experience, I would never recommend the surgery. So many unknowns that are not being investigated, so little important pre-operative information is provided. But there is money to be made by the doctors and the greed factor is present. I don't believe there is any way to know if any doctor is good: my doctor was board certified, AAO fellow, had patents in intraocular lenses, and is affiliated with many companies related to eye surgery. He advertises heavily. But my results were distressing and very poor, while he was saying I was "20/15"! He basically ignored my complaints.

Preoperatively, both eyes were similar, -2.00(s), -.25(c). I was steered into getting LASIK, not PRK. I was pushed into having bilateral simultaneous surgery (big mistake). My doctor did not perform cycloplegic exam, dilated fundus exam, pachymetry, IOP, and also performed only one refraction.

Day of surgery: vision was "wavy" and ghosted. Final outcome: overcorrected in right eye, undercorrected in left, induced increased astigmatism both eyes. Also I have: debris under flap; trouble maintaining focus; eye aches; headaches; difficulty watching moving objects; need plugs for dry eyes; starbursts, halos, red veins on sclera; pinguecula (from suction eye ring); anisometropia; transient patchy cloudiness (some material under flap?) in both eyes; decreased contrast sensitivity; need more light at night; glare is much more noticeable and disturbing now. Oh yes, and now I must wear glasses AT ALL TIMES. I cannot/will not wear contacts--I have a fear of ripping off my flap, which I have been told by a LASIK doctor could certainly happen.

I will never be the same as before. Glasses were easy before surgery--now, they never seem to be quite "right". Maybe all I needed was eye plugs and contacts. A day doesn't go by that I am not negatively affected by this surgery. Two thumbs down for LASIK.