FDA re-evaluates Lasik eye surgery

The FDA is weighing whether surgeons should provide additional warnings about the risks of Lasik eye surgery. Dr Jen Ashton breaks it down.

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[meestabeck]

Lasik patient here, a decade post surgery.
Before surgery, I was -6.25 in my right eye, -6.5 in my left eye. I was close to requiring custom ordered contacts as my prescription was so bad.
I researched the surgery. I looked into what was needed. The center that I used re-enforced the aftercare. I made it my mantra NOT to touch my face at all during the 48 hours after surgery. I wore the eye mask (that looked like a half face visor) when I slept for a week.
I have no lasting effects. No starburst at night while driving. No long term issues at all.
20/20 vision post surgery.
I am turning 40 this year, and I can see better today than I could during the 1st grade without glasses. (still 20/20)
I believe that every study should be public to consumers, especially in regards to medical treatment. With that being said, based on my experience, I believe that the majority of issues that arise from this surgery are likely due to patients creating trauma in the recovery organ (i.e. the eyeball).

One point that I learned based on my research of this surgery (before I ever had it), was people saying that several hours after they got home were terrible. They felt like sand had been poured in their eyes (due to the numbing drops wearing out). Many people suggested having the surgery done when very tired (since you cannot drive home yourself after said surgery).
I followed this advice, and stayed up late before my surgery. I had my wife wake me up for it (I was very tired). The surgery proper was completed in around 15 minutes. I then went home, put on my face visor, and went to sleep. As I drifted of, my eyes started watering like crazy, and I felt a noticeable discomfort (like sand in my eyes).
Then I slept for 4-6 hours.
When I woke, my eyes were dry, but not painful.
I continued to wear my sleep visor for a week, to let my eyes heal. Again, no long term side effects, and no issues with my vision, or dry eyes.

Should LASIK centers give this advice to patients? Yes. Does it mean LASIK doesn't work because you rubbed your itchy eyes, and tore your lens flap? I am leaning towards no.

[JamesAwtil-dmqv]

A lot of complications occur many years later due to corneal thinning and corneal nerve damage. Its always so disheartening seeing people think that because they're five years out and nothing bad has occured yet everything is fine. Its like smoking for 5 years and not getting sick from cigarettes so cigarettes must be safe. Lasik permanently damages the cornea beyond repair always.

[pineappleice]

For anyone who has not had lasik this was quite the generalized media piece. At 1:35 the woman in green very briefly hit the most important piece of this discussion, after the surgery, you go home and virtually all of the after care is the patient’s responsibility. The patient needs to ensure they are not rubbing their eyes, not wearing makeup for a period of time, not rinsing their face, using their prescribed eye drops. There is A LOT of variability of results because of the after care

[jamesdebusschere]

I got LASIK Eye Surgery over four years ago. I don’t need glasses or contacts. I have no pain, no side affects, and 20-15 vision (better than with glasses). It was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

[mbrowshan]

I worked in the field for 20 years. as an Optician and Surgical Assistant. There are good doctors and not so good doctors so do your research if you are considering this procedure. Also the lasers used are critical as well. Ask what systems a practice uses before having the surgery. You do not want a laser system that's 15 plus years old being used on your eyes, and believe me there are still some surgeons that use these older systems. Getting back to the results most patients would see quite well 24 hours after the procedure. Of course as with any medical procedure there can be complications. Some are caused by the body/corneas reaction to the surgery, while others are the result of a poor surgical procedure. Other complications can arise as well (dry eyes, infections, a dislodged flap, and cellular growth under the flap are common issues for around 3 to 5% of patients treated) but again around 93% of the patients my practice treated could see 20/20 or better the following day and had little or no complications. The FDA in my opinion needs to regulate this industry more and add additional warnings to the consent forms. Another good thing to review is the FDA's website which goes in depth about the Lasik procedure and explains both its benefits and risks.

[jeffreyschwarz]

My daughter had PRK which does not cut into the eye. She uses eye drops occasionally but her vision is excellent and this was decades ago. She's happy with the procedure done at a hospital.

[hagakuru]

I had LASIK done in 1998 (26 years ago) and was one of the first dozen people in this part of States to have it done through a university's ophthalmology department. I was 36 at the time and had terrible vision before it. The 20/20 correction lasted roughly 15 to 16 years and then I started to have some vision problems again. Now, during the daytime I get by without glasses with some blurred vision but not enough to really bother me. However, at night I have to wear -75/-75 glasses particularly when I drive. I'm not sure how the technology has changed over those 26+ years, but I assume it's much better now with better results.

[mauleh]

My uncorrected vision was near-sighted, about 20/500 in both eyes. I was corrected to 20/20 with glasses until in my 20's. Then I wore contact lenses for 50 years. In 2009, at age 73, I had cataract surgery and obtained 20/20 in both eyes! Luckily I avoided "Radial keratotomy" and LASIK years ago. Then, in 2011, my daughter was almost rushed into getting LASIK! My Letter to Editor in our local paper concluded "If LASIK surgery was the only way that eye focusing improvement was being achieved, then the Nobel Prize would certainly be awarded to the persons who came up with the much better ways of correcting vision with glasses and with contact Lenses!"

[lyoe]

I also have complications from LASIK. And let me tell you having severe dry eyes and eye pain is not fun. I was also not told about these permanent complications. These doctors and Lasik clinics need to be more transparent with their patients on what can happen even if the complication rate is slim. You can go to the best doctor in the world and you can still have permanent effects from LASIK. It's all about how your eyes heal. And there is no doctor in the world that can tell your eyes will heal back to normal. You only get two eyes in life. It's not worth the risk of ruining them!

[----]

I had SMILE in 2019 and I have not been able to work, drive, or leave the house hardly as a result. It ruined my life. I was told I was a great candidate and the risks are negligible. Like most laser surgeons, they are entirely commercially motivated and are keen to take high risks on patients for the quick financial gain. There is little to no protection for patients as the industry is not regulated and mounting a legal claim is almost impossible. The effectiveness of the surgery is also poor, often causing more reliance on glasses and almost always noticeable loss of vision. If you know the full picture of pros vs cons, NO SANE PERSON would make an informed decision to go ahead. This news is excellent as the industry has relied on painting a false positive picture to the patient in order to drive sales. Learn to love glasses and don't let them touch your eyes!

[howto-wiki]

I had lasik done 2 years ago, right after surgery, I saw 20/10 which = super human vision. My vision has noticeably regressed, I had a eye exam a few months ago and can see 20/20 now. No side effects. Eyes were dry the first 6 months an had to use a crap ton a eye drops. Money well spent.

[maggie]

My right eye was very very nearsighted, -12, then I had lasik on that one eye in 2015, looked good initially, but the eye steadily got more and more nearsighted again, but the worst was not that, if it were, I could just get glasses, but it’s the lack of actual light detected by the eye, greatly diminished, the blurriness that cannot be corrected, never mind night vision, very limited. Yes, it’s dry but not awful thank goodness. What saved me was that I insisted on only doing one eye.
I would say don’t do it. I was smart not to do both eyes, my brain has compensated, and my left eye now leads the way.. Had I done both eyes, omg.. I can’t even imagine how devastated I would be.
I would say, enjoy your glasses, don’t touch your eyes, they are the only ones you got. Maybe in the future there might be something much safer. I would not play around with
Lasik, this has been my experience. Hope this helps someone.

[atolm]

Had lasik in both eyes then prk in one due to complications, ruined my eyes, dry eye all the time, can't have car window down, fans aggravate it, the furnace also, going for a walk even. The money, the hundreds I spend on drops, time lost from work and my discomfort, worst decision I've ever made.

[smileyG]

She’s so quick to make excuses. People have committed suicide over lasik

[tonymu]

LASIK 25 years ago. No problems related to the procedure. I developed some floaters about 15 years ago.
I recommend LASIK

[AmazingStoryDewd]

Lasik was about the best decision I ever made. I see a lot of sad stories here. In reality it's no different than any surgery. It all has risks.

[EM-mwqr]

I've been nearsighted since I was a child and I never got lasik surgery because there was something about it that I never trusted.

[Georgealex]

All the people commenting about the success stories couple of days post op. Many of the complications occur down the line and if they don’t then good for you but don’t go around telling others to get it. It is still a massive risk and people should decide for themselves without your intervention.

[simonemdiniz]

I am from Brazil and I have severe dry eyes because of lasik surgery. I don’t see well with my right eyes and spend a lot of treatment with Jett plasma, autologous serum, tracholimus. If you now something else that I can do, please let me known. I am thinking about moving to usa to try something else

I ve lost almost all of my meibomian gland

[lorenzobrogi]

How many times must it be re-evaluated before getting benned forever?