I am a 46 yr. old, married, mother of 3, who wishes she had never had refractive surgery. It all started in 1992 when I went to a "free" seminar to gather information about a new, wonderful, safe procedure that would save me money and improve my life. So I was told at the seminar. I knew that I had pre-existing scar tissue in my left eye and an irregular astigmatism so I did not think I would be a candidate. But my physician said "No problem."

I had RK performed on both eyes in the fall of 1992. I did not have good vision from the start. I was told that "things have not settled down yet. We can always perform an enhancement." I waited and continued to struggle through my chores with the children , home and at work.

In 1993 I went to Minneapolis to see another physician. He performed a PRK on my left eye with later plans to surgically improve the right eye. The left eye did not improve. My left eye now had vision worse than pre-PRK and was covered with scar tissue from the laser.

In 1995 I went on a medical leave and had a corneal transplant performed on my left eye to improve contact wearing. One year later the transplant was complicated by a herpetic lesion at the suture line. This lesion will remain in my eye and will periodically require treatment throughout the rest of my life. My dry eye and eye pain became worse. I was unable to wear contacts or eye glasses. I had to struggle through every task I had taken for granted when I could see.

In late 1995 I filed for disability retirement at the hospital I had been employed at since 1978 and was told I did not qualify because I had filed the papers 22 days too late.

In 1996 I went to jury trial to attempt to obtain a settlement due to my medical condition. The physician I was suing had the resources to use attorneys from 3 separate large law firms to defend him while I had 1 law firm. My trial was an eight-day living nightmare filled with lies and twisted truths as presented by the defense attorneys. I was the victim made to look like a perpetrator. Needless to say, justice did not prevail. We lost the case and threw ourselves into a debt in excess of $50,000.

Due to my visual limitations I cannot interact with my children and husband as I once had. I no longer watch my children grow up. I encounter problems with cooking, cleaning, driving a car. I no longer read written material and am using a computer program that enlarges the print and reads the material. I have to relearn how to live life as a BLIND person.

As a result of my ordeal I decided to write a book about my surgery. I hope that I can help people make an informed decision by providing them with ALL the information regarding refractive surgery.

Name:
Geri Cross-Madsen, 46

Madsen@chorus.net
Occupation:
Former: surgical nurse
Now: visually disabled

From: Wisconsin

Pre-Op Vision:

Right eye: -4.75 (20/15)
Left eye: -6.00 (20/30)
Pre-existing scar irregular astigmatism

Procedures:

Right eye: RK
Left eye: RK, PRK and Corneal transplant

Post-Op Vision:

RK:

Right eye: +6.50
Left eye: +0.25

PRK:

Right eye: no change
Left eye: +3.00

Corneal transplant:

Right eye: no change
Left eye: -6.50
Right eye: 20/200

Left eye: 20/600

Distorted anisometropia
irregular astigmatism
night blindness
eye pain