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Domain: usaeyes.org

Stories and comments across the archive that link to usaeyes.org.

Comments · 7

  1. Not the same for every kind of eye problem by cHALiTO · · Score: 1 · on Laser Eye Surgery, Revisited 10 Years Later

    Hyperopia and astigmatism :(

    http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/sub...

  2. Re: Astronomy, and general poor night-time results by modemboy · · Score: 4, Informative · on Laser Eye Surgery, Revisited 10 Years Later

    Halos are caused by the correction area being smaller that the dilated pupil size, has nothing to do with the type of LASIK.
    More info: http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/f...

    The most common post LASIK problem is actually dry eyes, 50% of patients.

    It is certainly not a perfected surgery IMHO.

  3. Re:PRK is most popular in Europe by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 1 · on The U.S. Navy's Doctrine of Laser Eye Surgery
    I agree that PRK has some promise coupled with new techniques - the slow healing you described is interesting. However, the lasik flap 'coming loose' is complete nonsense. That might happen a few days, perhaps weeks after lasik surgery, but after a few months this is simply not possible... go have a look here, you will see what I mean.

    Also, the problems with halos and nightvision are not related to 'scarring' as you said, but higher order aberrations in the eye. These can be mapped now using custom wavefront mapping techniques and greatly reduce the chances of these complications that would crop up with older, non-wavefront lasik. I am curious how the medication would affect the eye beyond the typical swelling and such, as you wear a contact lens bandage for five days following PRK.

  4. The eye doctors' jeopardy... by shihka · · Score: 1 · on Experiences with Laser Eye Surgery?

    Here is a link, 50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor and another link explaining Wavefront

  5. The eye doctors' jeopardy... by shihka · · Score: 1 · on Experiences with Laser Eye Surgery?

    Here is a link, 50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor and another link explaining Wavefront

  6. Re:Be careful by empty · · Score: 2, Informative · on Experiences with Laser Eye Surgery?
    Some of the problems that can occur:

    Sands of the sahara (PDF)

    Dry eyes


    Bad experiences: Lasikdisaster.com

    On the other hand, I haven't personally known anyone who had problems, but I do personally know a handful of people who are very happy with their Lasik experiences. YEMV

  7. Be an educated patient! by awallgren · · Score: 1 · on Laser Vision Surgery for Developers?
    Don't even think about going to a doctor who isn't thorougly familiar with each potential side-effect. Bring a list of questions, and run screaming if they don't instill you with confidence that they know how to recognize and treat every one effectively. Not doing so could at best cost you time and money, at worst your eyesight.

    I know five people who've had Lasik within the past three years. Three of them had great procedures and outcomes, and are very happy that they did it.

    One person had a procedural problem where the microkeratome damaged the corneal flap while it was cutting it. This person was out of commission for several weeks, under strict order not to use her eyes for anything but basic life functions. No reading, no TV, no driving. As she said, "thanks goodness for books on tape." The outcome once she got past this problem was fine -- even though she's not happy with the procecure itself, she's very happy with the outcome.

    The last anecdote is my sister, who is now blind in one eye after a rare (but not rare enough) complication called Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis, knows colloquially as DLK or as Sands of Sahara. The cause is foreign matter that is introduced between the flap and the underlying tissue during the procedure. This matter is sterile, so this isn't an infection. One of the dangers is that it's often mistaken for an infection and treated as such. This is critical, because time is your enemy if you have DLK. The cornea attacks the foreign matter, essentially destroying itself in the process, if not caught early enough. Most people come out of DLK just fine, as long as it's caught early. If your doctor doesn't know about DLK, turn around and leave.

    I realize my anecdotes aren't a scientific sampling, but if you're contemplating this surgery, I urge you to get familiar with the possible side-effects, common and rare. Almost everything we do in life has potential downsides -- but realize that this surgey is 100% elective, not a treatment for a life-threatening illness.

    Read as much as you can about side-effects: if some of them don't scare you, you're going into this procedure blind, and you may end up going out of it blind as well. As much as the local Corneas-r-Us tells you in their radio ads that this procedure is simple and takes only a few minutes, complication rates (according to my eye doc of 13 years) are still around 1% (I'm not clear on whether that means 1% for each eye, or 1% for each person). It's still not clear what, if any, are the long-term sideeffects.

    Don't get me wrong: Lasik is a wonderful thing when it succeeds, as it does the vast majority of the time. As long as you're comfortable with the risks, the reward is pretty cool.