Up front I will say, I am not anti-LASIK, when it is sold honestly.
I had a friend who taught rock-climbing. I didn't ask him
to stop rock-climbing; we both knew about Marc Welman,
a man who was paralyzed in a fall and then climbed Half Dome
using arm strength only.
However, the LASIK Industry has worked very hard to make
sure that people don't hear about injured LASIK patients.
That includes pressuring Google to manipulate search results.
I lost a page one ranking for the search terms "LASIK San Diego"
in October 2002 - the same month they started taking ads from
San Diego LASIK Surgeons. It didn't move to page 3 or page
10, it disappeared. Do a search using the term "epithelial
ingrowth", and you might find my website. The problem is,
most people don't find out about such things until they are
in the unfortunate position of experiencing them.
The LASIK Industry has also excised every mention of websites
by injured LASIK patients from Wikipedia. For reference, I have
pasted that list of websites below. Try pasting that list in the
"Complications" section of Wikipedia, and see what happens.
Anyway, here is, The LASIK Report. Below that, a list of websites
created by injured LASIK patients.
Get the point ? When a LASIK Surgeon says LASIK is Safe,
they are using a definition of "safe" that is 200% alien from the
normal English language that you and I use. LASIK is Safe
the same way surfing at Maverick's is safe.
The LASIK Report - PhD Scientist, injured by LASIK, Investigates.
http://thelasikreport.com/TheLasikReport_Aug2006.pdf
THE LASIK REPORT
A Scientist Investigates LASIK eye surgery.
August, 2006
LASIK is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in the United States today. The public perception of LASIK is based largely on advertising, which is intended to entice patients to have surgery without disclosing risks, side effects and contraindications.
The perceived benefits of LASIK surgery are obvious, whereas risks and adverse effects are not. It is unwise to assume that a surgeon who has a financial interest in a patient?s decision to have LASIK will provide adequate informed consent.
LASIK is irreversible and may result in long-term, debilitating complications. There are permanent adverse effects of LASIK in 100% of cases, even in the absence of clinically significant complications. This is unacceptable in the context of an elective surgery when safer alternatives such as glasses or contact lenses exist.
I. BACKGROUND
In 1998, when the first laser received FDA approval for LASIK, little was known about complications and long-term safety of the procedure. Early clinical trials did not thoroughly examine adverse effects of LASIK.
Since that time, numerous medical studies have examined the risks of LASIK. It is now widely reported in ophthalmic medical journals that complications such as dry eye and visual disturbances in low light are common, and that creation of the corneal flap permanently compromises tensile strength and biomechanical integrity of the cornea.
In 1999 during the initial boom in popularity of LASIK, Marguerite B. McDonald, noted refractive surgeon and then-Chief Medical Editor of EyeWorld magazine, stated in an editorial:
?We are only starting to ride the enormous growth curve of LASIK in this country. There will be more than enough surgeries for everyone to benefit if we keep our heads by sharing information openly and honestly and by resisting the temptation to criticize the work of our colleagues when we are offering a second opinion to a patient with a suboptimal result. Who was it who said, ?When the tide comes in, all the boats in the harbor go up?? ?
Today some prominent refractive surgeons are finding superior outcomes and better safety profiles with surface ablations such as PRK and LASEK, which avoid creation of a corneal flap. Yet LASIK continues to be the most common refractive surgical procedure performed.
II. DRY EYE
A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology published in 2002 stated that dry eye is the most common complication of LASIK surgery.1 Refractive surgeons are aware that LASIK induces dry eye, yet patients are not receiving full informed consent as to the etiology, chronic nature and severity of this condition.
?My LASIK dry eye is not a minor problem, as downplayed by some ophthalmologists. It's a disability. I estimate that I am blind approximately 10 percent of the time due to my eyes being closed because of the pain. At the time of my surgery, I was told only a small number of patients experience a complication from this procedure. There is substantial evidence that shows this crippling side effect to be relatively common.?
LASIK patient, David Shell, testifying before the FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel in August, 2002.
Persistent Dry Eye and Quality of Life after LASIK
Patients elect to undergo LASIK surgery with the expectation of improved quality of life. Instead, many are living with chronic pain from LASIK-induced dry eye.
The FDA website states that dry eyes after LASIK may be permanent (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/LASIK/risks.htm). Patients should be informed that LASIK surgery severs corneal nerves that play a crucial role in tear production, and that these nerves do not return to normal. Inability to sense and respond to dryness may lead to ocular surface damage.
Medical Research on the Duration and Severity of Dry Eye
Dry eye disease is a painful, chronic condition for some patients after LASIK surgery. In 2001, Hovanesian, Shah, and Maloney found that 48% of LASIK patients reported symptoms of dryness at least 6 months after surgery, including soreness, sharp pain and eyelid sticking to the eyeball.2
A Mayo Clinic study published in 2004 demonstrates that 3 years after LASIK corneal nerves are less than 60% of preoperative densities.3
In 2006, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reported the incidence of dry eyes six months after LASIK at 36% overall and 41% in eyes with superior-hinges.4 These findings were based on objective medical tests rather than patient questionnaires, which is significant as patients with nerve damage may not be capable of sensing dryness.
The scientific literature is replete with case reports and studies of LASIK-induced dry eye. This complication is widely recognized in the industry as the most common complaint of LASIK patients, yet the problem is downplayed in the informed consent process. Most dry eye therapies provide only marginally effective symptomatic relief. There is no cure for LASIK-induced dry eye. Internet bulletin boards with forums devoted to post-LASIK dry eye are a testament to this widespread, debilitating condition.
III. Night Vision Impairment
Continued at
http://www.theLASIKReport.com/...ASIKReport_Aug2006.pdf
LASIK COMPLICATIONS WEB SITES
~ Original list provided by Elvira, Websites Created by Injured LASIK Patients ~
http://www.LASIK-Flap.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.theLASIKReport.com/ ~ Has *.pdf file, "TheLasikReport_Aug2006.pdf"
http://www.tlcbigskylasercenter.com/
http://www.lasermyeye.org/
http://www.lasikfraud.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.doctormyeye.com/
http://www.lasikreality.com/
http://www.eyefordesign.com/lasik.html
http://www.lasiksucks4u.com/
http://www.visionsimulations.com/
http://www.flawedlasik.com/
http://www.lifeafterlasik.com/
http://www.lasikmemorial.com/
http://www.geocities.com/pifanon/
http://dryeyezone.com/
http://mylasikstory.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~joewills/LASIKSTORYKEITH.html
http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php
http://www.lasikdisaster.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.visionsurgeryrehab.org/
http://directory.google.com/To.../LASIK/Personal_Pages/
I had a friend who taught rock-climbing. I didn't ask him
to stop rock-climbing; we both knew about Marc Welman,
a man who was paralyzed in a fall and then climbed Half Dome
using arm strength only.
However, the LASIK Industry has worked very hard to make
sure that people don't hear about injured LASIK patients.
That includes pressuring Google to manipulate search results.
I lost a page one ranking for the search terms "LASIK San Diego"
in October 2002 - the same month they started taking ads from
San Diego LASIK Surgeons. It didn't move to page 3 or page
10, it disappeared. Do a search using the term "epithelial
ingrowth", and you might find my website. The problem is,
most people don't find out about such things until they are
in the unfortunate position of experiencing them.
The LASIK Industry has also excised every mention of websites
by injured LASIK patients from Wikipedia. For reference, I have
pasted that list of websites below. Try pasting that list in the
"Complications" section of Wikipedia, and see what happens.
Anyway, here is, The LASIK Report. Below that, a list of websites
created by injured LASIK patients.
Get the point ? When a LASIK Surgeon says LASIK is Safe,
they are using a definition of "safe" that is 200% alien from the
normal English language that you and I use. LASIK is Safe
the same way surfing at Maverick's is safe.
The LASIK Report - PhD Scientist, injured by LASIK, Investigates.
http://thelasikreport.com/TheLasikReport_Aug2006.pdf
THE LASIK REPORT
A Scientist Investigates LASIK eye surgery.
August, 2006
LASIK is one of the most commonly performed elective surgeries in the United States today. The public perception of LASIK is based largely on advertising, which is intended to entice patients to have surgery without disclosing risks, side effects and contraindications.
The perceived benefits of LASIK surgery are obvious, whereas risks and adverse effects are not. It is unwise to assume that a surgeon who has a financial interest in a patient?s decision to have LASIK will provide adequate informed consent.
LASIK is irreversible and may result in long-term, debilitating complications. There are permanent adverse effects of LASIK in 100% of cases, even in the absence of clinically significant complications. This is unacceptable in the context of an elective surgery when safer alternatives such as glasses or contact lenses exist.
I. BACKGROUND
In 1998, when the first laser received FDA approval for LASIK, little was known about complications and long-term safety of the procedure. Early clinical trials did not thoroughly examine adverse effects of LASIK.
Since that time, numerous medical studies have examined the risks of LASIK. It is now widely reported in ophthalmic medical journals that complications such as dry eye and visual disturbances in low light are common, and that creation of the corneal flap permanently compromises tensile strength and biomechanical integrity of the cornea.
In 1999 during the initial boom in popularity of LASIK, Marguerite B. McDonald, noted refractive surgeon and then-Chief Medical Editor of EyeWorld magazine, stated in an editorial:
?We are only starting to ride the enormous growth curve of LASIK in this country. There will be more than enough surgeries for everyone to benefit if we keep our heads by sharing information openly and honestly and by resisting the temptation to criticize the work of our colleagues when we are offering a second opinion to a patient with a suboptimal result. Who was it who said, ?When the tide comes in, all the boats in the harbor go up?? ?
Today some prominent refractive surgeons are finding superior outcomes and better safety profiles with surface ablations such as PRK and LASEK, which avoid creation of a corneal flap. Yet LASIK continues to be the most common refractive surgical procedure performed.
II. DRY EYE
A report by the American Academy of Ophthalmology published in 2002 stated that dry eye is the most common complication of LASIK surgery.1 Refractive surgeons are aware that LASIK induces dry eye, yet patients are not receiving full informed consent as to the etiology, chronic nature and severity of this condition.
?My LASIK dry eye is not a minor problem, as downplayed by some ophthalmologists. It's a disability. I estimate that I am blind approximately 10 percent of the time due to my eyes being closed because of the pain. At the time of my surgery, I was told only a small number of patients experience a complication from this procedure. There is substantial evidence that shows this crippling side effect to be relatively common.?
LASIK patient, David Shell, testifying before the FDA Ophthalmic Devices Panel in August, 2002.
Persistent Dry Eye and Quality of Life after LASIK
Patients elect to undergo LASIK surgery with the expectation of improved quality of life. Instead, many are living with chronic pain from LASIK-induced dry eye.
The FDA website states that dry eyes after LASIK may be permanent (http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/LASIK/risks.htm). Patients should be informed that LASIK surgery severs corneal nerves that play a crucial role in tear production, and that these nerves do not return to normal. Inability to sense and respond to dryness may lead to ocular surface damage.
Medical Research on the Duration and Severity of Dry Eye
Dry eye disease is a painful, chronic condition for some patients after LASIK surgery. In 2001, Hovanesian, Shah, and Maloney found that 48% of LASIK patients reported symptoms of dryness at least 6 months after surgery, including soreness, sharp pain and eyelid sticking to the eyeball.2
A Mayo Clinic study published in 2004 demonstrates that 3 years after LASIK corneal nerves are less than 60% of preoperative densities.3
In 2006, researchers at Baylor College of Medicine reported the incidence of dry eyes six months after LASIK at 36% overall and 41% in eyes with superior-hinges.4 These findings were based on objective medical tests rather than patient questionnaires, which is significant as patients with nerve damage may not be capable of sensing dryness.
The scientific literature is replete with case reports and studies of LASIK-induced dry eye. This complication is widely recognized in the industry as the most common complaint of LASIK patients, yet the problem is downplayed in the informed consent process. Most dry eye therapies provide only marginally effective symptomatic relief. There is no cure for LASIK-induced dry eye. Internet bulletin boards with forums devoted to post-LASIK dry eye are a testament to this widespread, debilitating condition.
III. Night Vision Impairment
Continued at
http://www.theLASIKReport.com/...ASIKReport_Aug2006.pdf
LASIK COMPLICATIONS WEB SITES
~ Original list provided by Elvira, Websites Created by Injured LASIK Patients ~
http://www.LASIK-Flap.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.theLASIKReport.com/ ~ Has *.pdf file, "TheLasikReport_Aug2006.pdf"
http://www.tlcbigskylasercenter.com/
http://www.lasermyeye.org/
http://www.lasikfraud.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.doctormyeye.com/
http://www.lasikreality.com/
http://www.eyefordesign.com/lasik.html
http://www.lasiksucks4u.com/
http://www.visionsimulations.com/
http://www.flawedlasik.com/
http://www.lifeafterlasik.com/
http://www.lasikmemorial.com/
http://www.geocities.com/pifanon/
http://dryeyezone.com/
http://mylasikstory.com/
http://home.comcast.net/~joewills/LASIKSTORYKEITH.html
http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php
http://www.lasikdisaster.com/ ~ Temporarily Censored by the LASIK Industry, now Back Up
http://www.visionsurgeryrehab.org/
http://directory.google.com/To.../LASIK/Personal_Pages/
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