This is a bit disturbing of a headline to see, literally a couple hours before I'm scheduled for a Lasik procedure.
But after reading the article, I don't know how much weight there is to this. Seems to be a small sample and that report is heavily highlighting a couple negative items out of a largely happy pool of patients.
Was there any connection to the doctor or clinic? Did some clinics or equipment have a higher rate of complications? I'm getting mine performed at a well reviewed practice in San Jose.
This article isn't enough for me to cancel the procedure, but it was enough of a scare to put me on the edge for a second. Sensationalism? Maybe not quite, but it'd be great if these reports would work to remove their bias.
LASIK in the 90s versus LASIK in 2019 is almost an entirely different procedure. Modern LASIK procedures involve mapping the eye on a microscopic level, evaluating vision acuity at hundreds of points on the eye surface, and then allowing an automated laser to perform the procedure. This is known as a wavefront-guided LASIK procedure and produces outstanding results.
LASIK in the 90s involved physically cutting the surface of the eye with a keratome (blade) and relied on the precision of the surgeon's hand.
And yet they still make a big deal of how you can come in for a "tune up" or whatever. If it's so accurate, how did I end up an entire diopter off target?
Here are some relevant quotes from the FDA study for you.
In each of the PROWL studies, less than 1 percent of patients experienced difficulty performing their usual activities following LASIK surgery due to any one symptom.
...
* Up to 46 percent of participants, who had no visual symptoms before surgery, reported at least one visual symptom at three months after surgery.
* Participants who developed new visual symptoms after surgery, most often developed halos. Up to 40 percent of participants with no halos before LASIK had halos three months following surgery.
* Up to 28 percent of participants with no symptoms of dry eyes before LASIK, reported dry eye symptoms at three months after their surgery. This is consistent with previous studies.
* Less than 1 percent of study participants experienced "a lot of difficulty" with or inability to do usual activities without corrective lenses because of any one visual symptom (starbursts, ghosting, halos, glare) after LASIK surgery.
* More than 95% of participants were satisfied with their vision following LASIK surgery.
Participants were more than twice as likely to report their visual symptoms on a questionnaire than to tell them to their health care provider
These risks are not bullshit. On high contrast images I see not just 'halos' but more like blobs. Things it ruins: stars - looking at the night sky is ruined forever; good quality cinema - white letters on a black background are toast. Etc etc. I regret the almighty shit out of Lasik, but most people don't.
The procedure itself was as comfortable as they could make it, you know, for cutting a flap in your eye and blasting part of it away.
This morning I went in for followup and have 20/15 vision. A mild amount of blood under one flap which will dissipate within a week.
So far, only mild discomfort after the initial healing yesterday, which was pretty irritating. Now, it just feels like there's an eyelash that won't go away. I have to keep reminding myself that I can't adjust my contact lenses any more.
There is some staring I noticed looking at the clock display in a dark room, but nothing worse than the old pair of glasses I was wearing in the interim. But that's supposed to almost completely fade over 6 months.
I know that, "time will tell", but thus far, I'm very optimistic. I'd definitely recommend this doctor to anyone.
But after reading the article, I don't know how much weight there is to this. Seems to be a small sample and that report is heavily highlighting a couple negative items out of a largely happy pool of patients.
Was there any connection to the doctor or clinic? Did some clinics or equipment have a higher rate of complications? I'm getting mine performed at a well reviewed practice in San Jose.
This article isn't enough for me to cancel the procedure, but it was enough of a scare to put me on the edge for a second. Sensationalism? Maybe not quite, but it'd be great if these reports would work to remove their bias.