Putting A Close Eye On Lasik

Putting a Close Eye on LASIK

Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a surgical operation intended to allow an individual to live independent of glasses or contacts. Since 1995, when the Food and Drug Administration approved the type of laser used in corrective eye surgery, optometrists have developed a number of different procedures to clear up foggy or blurry vision in one's eye. In 1998, the Lasik surgery became the most common type of surgery, and remains the number one refractive eye surgery today. The surgery itself lasts no longer than 15 minutes per eye, and begins with the doctor placing a number of eye numbing drops into the patient's eyes to eliminate any possibilities of pain during the procedure. The first step in the procedure involves the cutting of a flap in the cornea by a computer programmed device called a microkeratome. By cutting the flap, the surgeon is able to use tiny tweezers-like instruments to unpeel the sliced flap. With the flap peeled back from the cornea the laser is used to remove small pieces of the inner part of the cornea, but the laser has only a specified wavelength which does not allow it to pass through the cornea to any other portion of the eye. The flap is then repositioned without stitches and is secure after seconds of drying ("Lasik Eye Surgery"). Doctors claim that the surgery is so popular because the patient's vision is restored rapidly and there is little to no post- surgery pain. But while the number of patients receiving the procedure rises, so do the number of complications and patient complaints. Patients whose vision was successfully restored cite that the success of the operation is dependent on the experience and skill of the surgeon, but many cases can be found that prove otherwise. A number of unsuccessful surgeries have left patients with months of irritation in their eyes, poorer vision, or no vision at all.

A procedure like Lasik, which requires precision and accuracy, has a high risk of complications when even the smallest detail is not done properly. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Lasik is a very risky procedure, and it is important for all patients to measure the benefits and risks prior to having the procedure. The FDA notes the loss of vision that is not correctable by glasses, contacts, or surgery, and the development of double vision, and halos as the most serious risks of the procedure. Furthermore, only a certain percentage of patients achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts, which means some patients will still require glasses or contacts following surgery ("Lasik Eye Surgery"). According to the Wake Forest University Eye Center, another side effect of the surgery may make the patient's eye unable to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist. Such dry irritation may cause discomfort and reduce the quality of one's vision. The dry irritation may require very thorough drop therapy to relieve irritation and swelling. The Center notes that even patients under the most skilled surgeons can experience very dangerous complications ("Lasik Surgery"). Malfunction of the laser device or errors in cutting the cornea can lead to long term damage of the eye. After surgery, movement of the protective flap, infection, or inflammation may lead to irreversible blindness ("Lasik Eye Surgery"). The risks listed by the FDA and the Wake Forest University Eye Center can be found on a variety of web sites advertising Lasik surgery, but many times are worded differently or do not provide full detail of the risks. The best way to research the risks of the surgery is to hear from former patients whose lives have changed because of complications that came after their refractive eye surgery.

A poorly done Lasik surgery may not only leave the patient with a series of complications, but also the social ramifications of such painstaking complications. For my neighbor Sue, the operation on paper left her with perfect 20/20 vision, just as her three doctors had predicted. However, one day removed from her surgery large amounts of pain arose in her eye that kept her from any activity. While some discomfort is expected after the procedure, ten months have gone by and Sue still suffers from numbing in her face and shooting pains in her eyes. The pain has literally changed who she is today. Prior to the procedure the Sue was a high school, but the enormous amount of pain in her eyes has limited the amount of reading she can do. Her cornea is so sensitive that even the slightest breeze of air can cause her eyes to become blood shot and painful. What used to be a simple walk outside for the mail now requires protective goggles. The source of the pain is one of the