My Story - Desperate in Denver
I got caught up in the hype. I first learned about LASIK from an ophthalmologist at a mutual friend's birthday party. He raved about LASIK and said the procedure was as safe as possible.

Over the course of the next year, I talked to about 5 people who had LASIK and 1who had PRK-- all of whom had miraculous results. Three people in particular greatly influenced my decision to "go for it"- My Optometrist, who's wife had PRK; a highly respected, talk-radio host who endorses LASIK; and a personal friend, a general surgeon, who told me the day after she had LASIK she performed surgery with perfect vision!

I believed LASIK was risk-free as I didn't think my optometrist's wife or a surgeon would risk their vision or their career.

I had LASIK because I am active with outdoor sports - skiing, hiking, biking, fishing. I thought it would be wonderful to enjoy outdoor activities without contact lenses. I wore gas permeable contact lens for 31 years with no problems; however, I thought it would be great to never have to deal with the discomfort of dust particles flying in my eyes on occasion. I also thought it would be a pleasure to be able to see an alarm clock and/or be able to get out of bed without having to reach for my glasses.

Pre-Operative

I contacted the surgeon who did my surgeon friend’s LASIK, and scheduled my surgery for July 9, 1998. The receptionist told me I would need to stop wearing my contact lenses and instructed me to schedule pre-operative visits with my optometrist who was on their list of "Approved " optometrists.

In previous years, my optometrist was strongly opposed to RK and PRK; but obviously had a change of heart as he approved of his wife's decision to have PRK. At my first pre-op visit, he confirmed his wife remained thrilled with her results. He never discussed any of the risks or gave me information to read about the risks. He only told me I couldn't be guaranteed 20/20 vision and I would still need readers.

As the surgery date came closer, I grew more apprehensive. I sent my optometrist a fax requesting confirmation that my time out of contacts prior to surgery was adequate. He made fun of me for being so paranoid; but later apologized for joking about something as serious as my vision. On the final check up prior to surgery, I asked him if it was wise to have both eyes done at the same time and again he made fun of me and remarked "just go have your surgery".

July 9th, 1998: The day of surgery-my day from Hell

Upon entering the surgeon's office for the first time, the receptionist greeted me with the question "both eyes"? She then gave me an 11 page information and consent form to read and sign. This was the first time I received information of this nature from either my optometrist or the surgeon. Eleven pages of information was overwhelming to digest 15 minutes before surgery. Plus I was mentally committed to going through with the surgery at this point. Overall, I felt the information downplayed the risks and complications. I interpreted the more serious risks mentioned as things that only happened with other surgeons.

For example, the first section convinced me the surgeon’s Excimer Laser was "special" because it was developed specifically for performing LASIK. It said his laser was under investigation, meaning it was not FDA approved; but also said other excimer lasers are under investigation for LASIK and the two models that have been approved are for PRK, not LASIK.

The next sections of the 11 page booklet summarized the procedure, follow-up visits and the surgeon’s previous experiences. I was further convinced the surgeon had an excellent track record as complications mentioned with his previous 3600 procedures seemed minor and very rare: growth of cells under the flap in 6 eyes (0.17%), 8 cases (0.22%) flap not smooth and 1 case in which the laser was not functioning property and the procedure was stopped midway. The cause of malfunction was corrected and no further problems with the laser have occurred.

The section about discomforts and risks said farsightedness is more likely in people over age 40 and slight over correction has occurred in less than 1%. (I was 45 years old at the time of surgery and ended up very overcorrected. +2.75 and +3 is not slight!) Another sentence indicated that if you do not look directly at the focusing (fixation) light during surgery it could result in poorer vision than anticipated.

I was also asked to sign an authorization to pay my optometrist for my follow-up visits. I was surprised to learn my optometrist was being paid a sizable fee, as I recall it was around $1,200 to handle 4 or 5 check ups over the course of 1 year. This struck me as a "conflict of interest". I wondered if this "referral fee" was the reason my optometrist changed his position from being Anti-refractive surgery to now endorsing the procedure.

I was asked to also fill out a 1 page questionnaire. I left a few questions unanswered that I wanted to discuss because the questions contradicted my reason for having the surgery i.e. would you be unhappy if you could not wear contact lens? No one talked to me about my "unanswered questions". Instead, I was put in a room with several others waiting their turn to be zapped --- an "assembly line".

While I was lying on the operating table prior to the actual procedure, the surgeon read the letter I previously faxed both my optometrist and himself questioning if I had adequate time out of contacts prior to surgery. He said I'd probably be fine. I responded that "probably" wasn't a good enough answer. He referred back to the letter, then patted me on the arm and said "you'll be fine."

An intravenous line was started, the surgeon told me to look at the light and from that moment on I have NO recollection of the rest of the procedure. The surgeon performed LASIK on both eyes.

Post-Operative: My life was turned upside down and has been an emotional roller coaster ever since.

I went home from surgery that afternoon with a 1 page postoperative care list which said blurry vision is normal for the first day. 3 days post-LASIK both my distant AND close range vision were extremely blurry. I panicked and called the emergency number to inform them something must have gone wrong in surgery. (Since I have no recollection of the actual surgery, I thought the reason for my mishap may have been that I was over sedated and unable to sustain focus on the fixation light.)

Horrifying Results

2 days pre-op my optometrist's measurements were -6.50 -.75 x 010 and -6.50 -.75 x 178 The day of surgery, my surgeon's measurement were -7.25 +.75 x 100 and -7.25 +.75 x 88 The surgeon claims he set his computer to correct me at -6.75 +050 x 059 and -700 + 050 x I 00 24 hours post-op, my Optometrist measurements were +2.25 and +3.50. He told me not to worry as there was a healing process (first time I was told about a healing process).

I was horrified! I chose to have an elective surgery to improve my vision. Instead, the procedure worsened my close range vision significantly and my distant vision remained very blurry. I could no longer see to do daily tasks that use to take me seconds. I also developed dry eyes and night vision problems from the surgery.

For example, my husband, who doesn't wear contacts, had to put my contacts in for me because my close range vision was now so poor I could not see the contact on my finger to get it in my eye. I got very depressed -- at 45 years old, I was now dependent on my husband for daily personal tasks. (I've since learned to turn my glasses vertically so I can look through one lens and see the contact on my finger to get it in my eye.) I floss in the shower; however, after surgery I could no longer see the floss. (Now I just "feel" for it.). The post-op emotional trauma was devastating. For 6 months I wasn't sure I wanted to live with this lousy vision. Yes, I considered suicide.

Escalation of Agony

The quality of my post-op care was reprehensible. In spite of the outcome, the surgeon did not call or see me after the surgery. My own optometrist didn't care enough to call me until over three months post-op knowing the severity of my overcorrection the day after my surgery. The surgeon’s in-house optometrists assumed responsibility of my follow-up visits in lieu of my optometrist. I was appalled that I had to request to see my surgeon, who was responsible for my plight, at my 1 week follow-up appointment. I was devastated that my optometrist didn't give a damn about the personal aspect of what had happened, or that I was severely overcorrected.

Conflicting information over the next weeks and months from the surgeon, his optometrists, as well as several other "renowned surgeons". Some examples are as follows:


The surgeon’s optometrist said I'd have to wait 1 month to wear contact lenses; the surgeon said 1 week.


Both the surgeon and his optometrist said my vision would improve over the course of a month; but told me I may need an "enhancement' in 6 months. (The term enhancement is an inappropriate word, in my opinion, that's used to downplay the seriousness of more surgery).


Both the surgeon and his optometrist said my vision would improve when my dry eyes improved. Tear duct plugs were inserted, which helped my dry eyes but did nothing to improve my vision.


11 days post-op, his optometrist put me in soft contacts of +3.25 power which corrected me to 20/40.


3 days later my appointment was with the surgeon’s other optometrist. She was perplexed that her associate had removed the lower plug in one tear duct and had me using re-wetting drops with preservatives rather than artificial tears with no preservatives. This optometrist lowered the power in my right lens to +250.


A week later, her associate optometrist changed my right lens to +200 and left to +275. 2 hours later she called me at work and said the surgeon wanted me in lower power lenses as the current power may inhibit over-correction from regressing.

Loss of confidence in my surgeon escalated

At 3 WEEKS POST-LASIK, the surgeon told me my eye tissue responded differently to the laser than most people. He said there's no way of knowing until you actually do the surgery if someone's eye tissue is going to respond differently. He promised he could correct my vision as he had done for several others who were overcorrected. He recommended he perform surgery on my left eye the next day, which was exactly 3 weeks post-LASIK! (Two weeks earlier, the surgeon said I may need surgery again in 6 months!) I requested references of other patients with similar outcomes and he refused, stating I selected him as my surgeon and I needed to trust him. His response only made me more suspicious of his track record. This sudden, drastic change in time frame to have another surgery was alarming. I told him I needed to think about it (with the intention of getting 2nd opinions).

Questionable Ethics

I requested a copy of my entire file. Interestingly, the 1-page questionnaire with the 2 unanswered questions was excluded! Did they neglect to give it to me or did they destroy it after learning of my mishap?

Several 2nd Opinions - More conflicting information

21 and 22 days post-op I had exams by 2 local ophthalmologists. Both said I was over-corrected. Both said they've had patients who ended up over-corrected; but none as badly as me. Both also said they only do one eye at a time and advised me not to have another surgery for at least 3 months after the first surgery. One ophthalmologist prescribed Voltaran; the other prescribed Ciloxan to treat the mild, infectious infiltrates the first ophthalmologist said he noticed.

I met with the surgeon’s optometrist a few days later and mentioned the 2nd opinion ophthalmologist prescribed Voltaran and also said we should keep an eye on some debris he detected under the flap, below the pupil. The optometrist treated me with Flarex drops and told me Vottaran was not nearly as effective. The following day the 2nd opinion ophthalmologist said the drops the optometrist put me on may delay an over-correction from regressing.

3rd opinion: 1 month post-op I obtained another opinion from another ophthalmologist, whom I learned was recognized in Colorado as "the surgeon's surgeon". He reviewed my file and said as he was reading my surgeon’s calculations, he was certain I would be overcorrected. This new ophthalmologist said he would have set the computer for 22 - 23% less correction; but said he wasn't certain of my surgeon’s fudge factor as they didn't use the same laser. He said I should wait 3 months and go to another ophthalmologist for the 2nd surgery. He said if he were me, he wouldn’t let my surgeon touch me again because of his laser. He said he was also uncomfortable with my surgeon’s "wheeler-dealer style" for something as serious as one's vision.

This 3rd opinion ophthalmologist also stated he refuses to do LASIK on both eyes at the same time. He told me to stop using Flarex and Voltaran as they were of no value at this stage. He recommended two other ophthalmologists for additional advice. He also suggested I contact the Colorado Board of Medical Examiners (they said there was no current board action and one past complaint had been settled) and he suggested contacting my surgeon’s co-paying insurance company (I have not pursued that.)

One of the above recommended ophthalmologists reviewed my file and wrote to me that people can respond differently to and heal differently to LASIK. Over corrections can happen. He suggested to wait 4 - 6 months after the first surgery then treat the farsightedness. He said I was within the correctable range. My surgeon or he could do this.

9/3/98 I sent another fax to this ophthalmologist that my surgeon continued to recommend I have a second surgery on one eye ASAP and this surgeon wrote back that I should wait and have a new flap cut, that I needed a larger flap for hyperopia.

9/8/98 5th Opinion (4th examination). Another ophthalmologist (affiliated with the aforementioned ophthalmologist) advised me to wait 5 - 6 months after the 1st surgery. I was told it was possible an enhancement would not change my vision much. Also, my surgeon’s keratome was not ideal for hyperopia. She offered to arrange to see another ophthalmologist .

10/14/98 6th Opinion: A different ophthalmologist confirmed my over correction was significant. He indicated reasons for over correction can be a result of things such as some lasers have more hot spots than others, the level of humidity in the operating room and dry cornea. He criticized the idea that initiated the change whereby it's now "routine to do both eyes at the same time.

7th Opinion: Mine was a complex case. They had a stack of complex cases 2 feet tall. Send my case but don't expect a response any time soon.

10/28/98 I contacted a surgeon who said he wanted other mishaps to send him their story so he could develop a history. He told me to contact him at 6 months if my vision had not regressed as he would research surgeons' track records. ( I have not re-contacted him.)

Approximately 31/2 to 4 months post-op, my surgeon sent my file to three other ophthalmologists. One called and shared with me that he had done surgery on 6000 eyes and 2 were overcorrected +2. He said that he had retreated a total of 6 eyes for overcorrection with a scanning laser, 2 of which were his own patients, and they came out with 20/20 to 20/30 vision. Although I appreciated his honesty (no other surgeon has been willing to share their data), I was astonished my surgeon would recommend a surgeon who's only done 6 procedures for overcorrection. This surgeon indicated the causes of overcorrection were due to lasers heating up and dry eyes. He encouraged me to reconsider having my surgeon do my 2nd procedure claiming he's done more LASIK procedures than anyone in the USA. He said he personally examined his laser 2 years ago and was impressed with its smoother, flatter profile.

1/23/98 I wrote to one of the first doctors I had seen for another opinion, informing him my vision had not regressed and inquired about the status of new technology. He sent me a letter and article (Volume 2, Number 6, Nov/Dec '98 issue of Refractive Eye care for Ophthalmologists) discussing new technology forthcoming in the next couple of years. His letter said this new technology justified me waiting.

12/7/98 I received a letter from an ophthalmologist about my surgeon supporting his clinical opinion with respect to enhancing my eyes at 3 months. Obviously he either overlooked the fact, or was misinformed, that my surgeon recommended the 2nd surgery at 3 weeks following the 1st surgery! (The more people I've met with mishap stories, I've grown suspicious that surgeons in the lecture circuit pass around their mishaps and defend one another.)

Consumer Awareness Campaign and Search for Others with Similar Mishaps

My initial reaction was to find others who had similar experiences to learn of possible solutions. I explored the Internet; but had minimal response. My weak computer skills coupled with my intense, long work days complicated this time-consuming pursuit; so I decided to take a more direct approach among my peers at my athletic club. I had my work-out shirts printed with a sign on the back that reads LASIK MADE MY VISION WORSE. This method, along with word of mouth among family, friends and business associates, led me to 8 others in Colorado who had similar or even worse results than me.

My surgeon is responsible for 3 of those mishaps I found in Colorado; 4 of those mishaps were done by other reputable surgeons in Denver and 1 mishap was done by another ophthalmologist recommended to me (over corrected and the surgery caused cataracts!) ALL surgeons seem to have skeletons in their closets, don't they!

WHAT HAS MY SURGEON DONE FOR ME? HOW AM I TODAY 11½ MONTHS POST-LASIK?

My surgeon, knowing I've lost confidence in him, offered to send me, at his expense, to other top surgeons.

He finally consented to my request for references and 4 of his patients, who he originally over corrected then successfully re-treated, agreed to talk to me. Although it was encouraging to hear 4 success stories, to date I have postponed my decision to have a 2nd surgery for 3 reasons: 1) I'm terrified of another failure and/or additional complications. 2) With the recent FDA approval of the procedure for farsightedness, there will be a huge learning curve. 3) The article and letter stating I should wait because technology is making quantum leaps; and 4) some people I've found in Colorado and around the country, who had the 2nd procedure by other top surgeons had additional complications as a result i.e. double vision, ghost images and/or still need correction. Some now wear glasses as they can no longer wear contact lenses due to scar tissue and/or severe dryness.

My surgeon has provided me with complimentary contact lenses, solution, artificial tears and a pair of progressive eye glasses. I'm correctable with soft contacts to about 20/40 most of the time. Howver, my vision worsens when I go to the mountains (which is most weekends) and when I get a little dehydrated. I can no longer wear gas permeable lenses because they make my eyes feel like they are full of sand. I've been to my surgeon's office approximately 30 times for problems (dryness, haze, worsening of vision during daytime and/or nightor regular follow-up visits). I'm no longer comfortable driving at night unless I'm familiar with the area. I have taken off work many, many hours, all of which I've had to make up by working in the wee hours of the morning, late nights and/or weekends.

Emotionally, I've been doing much better for the past 4 months. I've found comfort 3 ways: my mind is learning to deal with my adversity; talking to others who's mishaps are even worse than mine; and my faith.

MY SURGEON ASKED ME TO STOP TALKING TO HIS PATIENTS IN THE LOBBY AND ELEVATOR AND STOP WEARING MY SHIRT TO THE ATHLETIC CLUB

5/3/99 At a follow-up visit, my surgeon came in to check my vision and initiated a conversation regarding my vigilante methods. Apparently, a couple of his patients that I spoke with in the elevator in the building he's in, called and canceled their surgery after learning about my mishap. He felt that was inappropriate since he's offered to pay for me to have surgery elsewhere and I declined. He said he'd schedule my return follow-up visits before or after regular hours if I continue to talk to his patients.

I told him he failed to disclose the risks (11 pages of information) until immediately prior to surgery, which was overwhelming and unethical. I explained no one told me what my vision would be like if I’m overcorrected/farsighted. I reiterated my phone conversation with his optometrist 3 days post-LASIK when I called the emergency number. After a few questions she said "you ended up farsighted". I said "no way, because I can't see distance or close and I know people (my Dad) who say they're farsighted and their distant vision is great". She said "No, farsighted really means both your close range and distant vision are blurry."

I also pointed out to my surgeon that he provided inadequate pre-op information about the healing process. I told him I was not bad-mouthing him personally; however, someone needs to be telling people the truth, as he certainly wasn't. I told him that I share my story and knowledge of others' mishaps to help people make informed decisions.

My surgeon acted surprised when he learned I had never received one of his brochures from my optometrist. He then recited procedures they have in place today to disclose risks, including showing people what their vision would be if they are over corrected. (Was I one of those that "fell through the cracks"?) He said he knew he couldn't do anything about me wearing my shirt at the athletic club; but asked if I would stop wearing the shirt since I declined his offer to go elsewhere for surgery. I said absolutely not.