Re: LASIK? Will I go blind or see triple vision?
Lasik Disasters<br />CBS News<br />2/5/01<br />by Thelma Gutierrez<br /><br />Hundreds of thousands of Americans are having it done every year -- Lasik surgery. But not every patient winds up with perfect vision.<br /><br />CBS 2 News' Special Assignment Reporter Thelma Gutierrez takes a closer look at how some Lasik procedures have ended up being disasters for people whose hopes of better eyesight faded forever.<br /><br />It is hailed as a miracle of modern eye care...surgery that takes your world from blurry to clear in just seconds.<br /><br />But for a growing number of people, Lasik isn't a miracle at all, but a nightmare of corrections, infections and even corneal transplants.<br /><br />Victims of botched Lasik procedures tell of the consequences<br /><br />"They burned a hole through my cornea," said Kathy Tedesco.<br /><br />Kathy worked for a computer software company. She had Lasik three years ago to help her see up close. Now she can barely see at all.<br /><br />"On my right eye, I have no close-up vision, my left eye is like I'm looking through wax paper."<br /><br />Kathy says that the problem is the ophthalmologist used the wrong laser technique on her eyes.<br /> <br />Phil Estersohn supervised a printing shop for 38 years; he thought Lasik would change his life.<br /> <br />"I couldn't see to drive at night because I'd have a kaleidoscope or glare. I couldn't see anything at all," Phil said.<br /><br />"Needless to say I lost my job."<br /><br />Phil's doctor had left the laser on too long and drilled a hole right through his cornea, Gutierrez reported.<br /> <br />Lasik was first approved by the FDA two years ago to correct nearsightedness. More than a million Americans have already had it done and most have had great results. But, now problem cases are starting to surface. As the problem cases grow, so do the number of clinics that deal specifically with Lasik complications.<br /> <br />"We're seeing more and more disasters," said Dr. Robert Maloney of the Maloney Vision Institute. Dr. Maloney says that he's treating 15 people a week who've had problems. "In fact we're booked up to a month in advance," he said. This is only one of several clinics treating patients who've experienced Lasik mishaps. "They're generally happening because the surgeons are trying to cut costs or because they're not experienced," said Dr. Maloney.<br /><br />Kathy turned to Dr. Maloney for help. She's had a total of five surgeries to correct her vision, including a corneal transplant in her left eye because of Lasik gone wrong.<br /><br />Dr. Maloney thinks Kathy will need a corneal transplant in her right eye as well.<br /> <br />He says that it's all the result of the doctor using the laser the wrong way on Kathy's eyes.<br /><br />"It was almost like taking a piece of sand paper to the surface of her eye. It's like trying to use a hammer to do the job of a screwdriver. It's the wrong tool to do the job, " Maloney said.<br /><br />"One patient accidentally had a hole drilled through his flap, drilled through his cornea, because the surgeon didn't turn the laser off in time."<br /><br />That patient is Phil who thought he had done his homework. "It destroyed two years of my life -- it really did," Phil said.<br /> <br />As for Kathy, she's only 38 years old and on disability, with still another corneal transplant to endure.<br /> <br />
More...<br /><br />I just finished my term as board vice president at the local eye bank where we do corneal transplants. My viewpoint is more negative toward lasik because I tend to see the aftermath or things gone wrong. You will have to come to your own conclusion based on research. Personally, it scares the dookie outta me.
