What Everybody Ought to Know About Lasik
It seems so easy – you’re tired of wearing glasses or contacts; tired of waking up in the morning and not being able to see the alarm clock; tired of having to squint to see street signs or holding the menu at arm’s length just to order a meal.
So you drive to the nearest of several Lasik centers near you, lured by the promise of “Personalized Vision Correction,” a “Lifetime Satisfaction Plan,” even “NO MONEY DOWN! No interest til 2020!!”
You’re a little bit afraid to “go under the knife,” but you console yourself by imagining what it would be like to wake up and see clearly, painlessly, throughout the day – each day, every day.
It’s a seductive vision (pun intended), but the reality, as revealed at a hearing organized by the Food and Drug Administration in April 2008, is not just ugly, but literally painful and painfully complicated.
As in, complications from surgery. Horrible complications.
From the New York Times:
“Patients harmed by Lasik eye surgery alternated between fury and despair Friday as they told federal health officials of suffering years of eye pain, blurred or double vision – even of people driven to suicide.”
From the Washington Post:
“Since Lasik, I am visually handicapped,” patient David Shell told [the] panel … “My eyes never feel comfortable … 10 years have passed and I still suffer from this problem,” Shell said.
From eFlux Media:
“I have no night vision. I can’t drive at night. When I look across my living room, it’s like looking through used wax paper,” said Barbara Berney, who underwent the procedure in 2001 and now is president of the Vision Surgery Rehab Network, which helps patients who have experienced complications. “I deal with people every day who are miserable and depressed after Lasik surgery.”
Turns out that, of the estimated 700,000 Americans who undergo the procedure each year, many more are reporting post-Lasik problems than the industry’s self-proclaimed “95 percent satisfaction rate” would have us believe. Here is a partial list of complications:
- “Starbursts and halos that make it difficult to see” (Post)
- Poor vision even with glasses
- Complete lack of night vision
- Extreme blurriness, haze, glare
- “Dry eye … so severe that people suffer intense pain and need surgery to retain what little moisture their eyes form” (Times)
- Depression and other psychological problems
That a Lasik patient could still have 20/20 vision while experiencing these complications—and thus be claimed as a “success story” by the Lasik industry—is part of what Matt Kotsovolos describes as “a deceptive industry practice.”
Kotsovolos underwent a so-called successful Lasik procedure, but testified at the FDA hearings that “For the last two years I have suffered debilitating and unremitting eye pain.” It seems pretty obvious that ongoing serious eye pain would trump any claim to “perfect” vision, but the industry statistics are, well, fuzzy, to say the least.
Although the FDA convened the panel precisely to ascertain “the range of effects on patients’ quality of life,” which hitherto had been “a big unknown,” the panel ended up concluding that “Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is safe and well accepted,” according to MedPage Today.
Ah, but like those inadvertently hilarious TV commercials for miracle drugs with a list of side effects that take longer to announce than the benefits of the drugs themselves, the panel recommended these caveats to those seeking Lasik (from MedPage Today):
- The panel suggested labeling changes to more fully state what and how problems can occur, including extreme blurriness, haze, glare, halos, and starbursts. It also suggested that the label take note of possible depression or psychological problems.
- The panel also recommended that the FDA’s LASIK Web site should include photographic illustrations of visual disability, detailed statistics as to risk of side-effects or complications, and an expanded explanation of the benefits of LASIK, i.e., that improving distance vision will mean the need for reading glasses.
Caveat emptor, as they say: Buyer beware.
When you consider not only Lasik’s potential horrific side effects but also that you’re paying anywhere from $1,000 to $3,500 an eye for the possibility of ruining your sight, squinting at street signs or holding the menu at arm’s length doesn’t sound so bad.
Of course, there’s another option – with NO side effects and for a fraction of the cost – but it requires a little bit more work than just strolling into surgery. It’s called “Eye Exercises for Natural Vision Correction.” And no FDA panel has ever had to be convened for that!
I had lasik surgery in 2001 when in was fairly new. I was 59 years old. I had been unable to see since I was 10 years old. I hated glasses. Went into contacts when they were the hard glass lenses. When to the soft lenses when they came out, but still hated getting up in the morning unable to see till I put in my contacts. I had the lasik done. I researched until I found a good doctor. I didn’t bargain shop for my eyes. The lasik surgery was great. I got up the next morning and could actually see leaves on the tree instead of a green blur. I have had none of the problems you talk about. My eyes are great. I see to drive with no problems. My daughter and son in law had it done also with great results. Please don’t scare off people from having this done. Just find a reputable doctor and not a lasik fast turn around center. I am so glad I had it done. Probably one of the best investments I have ever made.
Mr. Sorensen,
I had Lasik surgery in 1999 by Dr. Mark Phelan. I have never regretted it. I researched this and at the time after wearing contacts since 16 I had Lasik done.
After wearing contacts that long my eyes were do dry and flat I couldn’t anymore. Glasses were hard to see through. I know that some of your excerises are good, but there are so many factors involved we each have to be respondsible. I now need glasses sometimes for computer, but I do everything I can to keep from it.
Dr. Mark Phelan was very good at what he did and I would not like to include him in this group of Lasik doctors of which was not true in my case. Each one should stand on it’s own.
I had lasik eye sugery about 10 years ago and still wear glasses, i can see without glasses but not procision, without my glasses it makes me nervous so i waster 1,000 maltese pounds at the time hopeing that i would never wear glasses again, and when i see neon lights its not good.
lasik is a scam
Yeah scared the life out of me. I went for an appointment etc. at a Lasik clinic but no-one seemed interested when I tried to discuss my dry eye problem. One of the comments was ‘oh well, depends on how much you want to do it(the surgery)’ and that I would have 20/20 vision or better than! Why would one want to risk it, I had extreme dry eyes, chronic blocked glands in my eyelids, where I couldnt read, watch tv, computer work however I havent had that problem for well over a year now although I do keep a supply of eye drops and if I feel my eyes are a bit tired and sore, apply them. Apart from how sore my eyes were I looked like I hadn’t slept in a week so it was pyschologically upsetting too. The other point that I would like to make was that, on leaving the Lasik Clinic, and taking a tram, a little boy with a white stick came aboard having left the Eye and Ear hospital, well that made me think I can see, so go home, put your glasses on and then try the eye exercises. Seeing that little blind boy really opened my eyes, so to speak! Why would one risk something as precious as sight with Lasik.
I had the no touch PRK procedure (http://www.lasereye.com/no-touch-prk-procedure)
I haven’t had a problem until about now where I find that driving at night is difficult. I purchased the Rebuild Your vision and completed them with improved success. Are there others out there who have done the RYV program post eye surgery?
I wouldn’t have such surgery done even if it were offered to me for free! Nature is the way.
I wish I never had LASIK. I went to Dr Jonathan Christenbury in Charlotte N.C. He was far too confident and too, too much away.
I wish I knew about this course before I had my surgery. I’ve been telling everyone I know about this course and not to have surgery. Try this course and see what happens. I can’t drive without medication, it’s always hard to see. LASIK has helped but also ruined my life. My brother in law had it done against my advice and now a year later, he is starting to see star bursts.
Sorry, just to say Dr Jonathan Christenbury in Charlotte N.C. He was far too confident and too, too much of my cornea away.
Good advice, good job. I feel pleasure whenever I see people like Mr. Sorensen helping others in this way. Keep it up.
Guys, I am tired of wearing glasses, and I have decided to have lasik eye surgery, but when I see your comments like, It’s scam, night vision will be lost, star bursts etc.. now I don’t know what to do please I need your help.
Hi May,
We have received a ton of testimonials from customers just like you who used the Rebuild Your Vision Program after Lasik or PRK surgery to maintain their vision. Read Pearl Tantivongsathaporn and Lisa Jameson’s stories at the link below. I think you will be able to relate.
http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/success_stories/
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Orlin, I’ve had lasik, it lasted about a year and my eyes have returned back to normal. Will rebuild your vision still work for me after having it done?
Hi Matt,
Lasik surgery helps to correct your vision by physically reshaping the cornea and adjusting the focal point of the light entering your eye. This has no bearing or effect on how our program works. The exercises and techniques are designed to strengthen and relax the muscles of your eye just as you would any other weak part of your body, improving your vision and helping you to see clearly — naturally.
The catch is dedicating 25 minutes a day to the exercises and techniques. The program is very easy-to-follow and is laid out in a step-by-step, minute-by-minute format. Once you receive the package you can begin the exercises within 10-15 minutes. Most people see a marked improvement within the first few weeks, with significant improvements in the following 2-3 months.
There’s a great testimonial from a woman with your same condition (prior Lasik) that I recently spoke with. Her name is “Pearl” and her story can be read at: http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/testimonials
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi…I too am one who did a lot of research and found a doctor who had done 10′s of thousands of proceedures. I was 52 at the time and was nervous about loosing my (very) up close reading..ie, that I would have to wear reading glasses. My doctor did not sugar caot that fact. He was very blunt about the fact that I would have to wear glasses for reading just as any “normal” sighted person would. After about 15-20 people on my job went to him over the course of 1 year, I decided to do it. It was great! For distance, that is. I was indeed suddenly far sighted. It was a little depressing. I went online and I found an presbyopia exercise…I started it and within one week, I could read again without glasses! I am an RN and I have to read the very tiny print on small vials of medicine for the expiration date and I can do it. So there is hope for those who have done lasik. BTW…i do have slight ghost halos when I look at street lights or the moon, but it was like that even before I got lasik. Are there specific exercises for that?
Thanks!