Larry Dawson
In March of 1998 I had LASIK done on both eyes the same day. The procedure on my right near sighted eye was a complete success. However as to my left farsighted eye it was another story. Had I done more research beforehand perhaps I could have anticipated problems. You see the procedure has not been even permitted in the US until recently. I had my procedure done in Mexicali Mexico one of the worlds renowned experts. Unfortunately my doctor did not tell me the procedure was all the more complicated by the fact I have a key hole pupil; you will notice in bulletin boards that people with larger pupils seem to have a higher percentage of problems. I think I jumped the gun on an enhancement three months later and that seemed to make my eye worse. In addition to ghosting and bluriness I had starbursts whenever I looked at traffic lights, headlights, or for that matter any light at night. I couldn't make out faces at a distance of more than say 20 feet, particularly if they were under fluorescent lights. Thank God for my good right eye.


I have managed to cope with my vision by using pilocarpine .05% solution up to 4 times a day. During daylight hours with this drug my vision is pretty good. The one problem is self medicating. It is suggested to tritate the dosage; its hard when you are on your own taking a drug that is primarily for glaucoma knowing when to reduce the dosage. Pilocarpine works for me by reducing the size of the pupil to correct the problem with the ablation zone and the size of the incision. Knowing just how much to take of the pilocarpine for it to work the best has been left up to me alone.


Recently I filled my second prescription for another bottle (my first almost ran out). My vision seemed to digress before starting it. I wonder if my first bottle had become stale because of temperature exposure or exposure to sunlight. My vision now is pretty good with the left problem eye. The one problem that persists is night vision particularly looking at bright lights like stop lights or the full moon. I still have starbursts on these objects and all other lights. Again thank God for my good right eye. At least I now have decent vision during the day, can watch TV and read with reading glasses.


Mr. Link is providing a much-needed service with this site. It upsets me greatly when I hear local celebrities such as Hedgecock and Leitner (men I respect) giving testimonials for LASIK when nothing is ever mentioned about the bad procedures\risks. When it doesn't work out people need to be told glasses will not correct the problems.


Unfortunately, I had no legal recourse. A lawsuit in Mexico would not have gone anywhere. Although he was very accommodating I think at the very least I should have been compensated for the cost of my procedure–$800 per eye. Perhaps I will forward him this message in the hope my lifetime of vision problems at least with the current state of technology means never returning to 20/20 vision and never being without starburst problems at night, etc.

ldawson@cactuslink.com