Lasik complications in the news
Many newspapers and television stations across the United States have carried stories exposing the dark side of the lucrative practice of LASIK. Even the nation’s more prestigious investigative news sources have sought to expose truths about the LASIK industry, often using very frank terminology. The Washington Post, for example, concludes: “Trust No One, Not Even Your Eye Doctor.”
Doctors, former patients warn of LASIK eye surgery dangers: ‘Biggest scam ever put on the American public’ By Dana Kennedy.
From the article: The suicide of a 26-year-old Pennsylvania police officer over the aftereffects of the popular eye surgery LASIK was not an isolated incident, with others saying the procedure left them with agonizing and life-changing symptoms, patients and doctors told The Post. LASIK providers say the procedure is 95% to 99% safe, but one LASIK survivor said she had suicidal ideations for two years after her “disastrous” surgery in 2000. She also claimed to know of at least 40 people who took their own lives because they couldn’t stand constant pain and vision problems, which developed after the procedure. Read article
Lasik Patients Should Be Warned of Complications, F.D.A. Draft Says By Roni Caryn Rabin.
From the article: atients considering Lasik surgery should be warned that they may be left with double vision, dry eyes, difficulty driving at night and, in rare cases, persistent eye pain, according to draft guidance by the Food and Drug Administration. After surgery, patients may still need eyeglasses, the document warns. If put into effect, the agency’s warnings are likely to come as a surprise to many Americans, who view the procedure as safe and commonplace. The F.D.A. document is not final. More than 600 individuals and professional groups have weighed in with comments since the draft of the guidance was made public in July, and the agency is now reviewing the input while preparing the final documents, officials said… But according to the F.D.A.’s draft guidance, a few Lasik patients have become severely depressed, even considering suicide, after experiencing complications from the surgery… The F.D.A. guidance has been in the making for over a decade. The document states briefly that the surgery is done to reduce dependency on eyeglasses, but most of the 29-page draft guidance is about the risks. Read article
When “Routine” Eye Surgery Leads to Debilitating Pain. By Betsy McKay.
From the article: Kaylee Patterson woke with a sharp pain in her right eye the morning after she had Lasik surgery… Worried, Ms. Patterson visited her surgeon and her regular eye doctor several times over the next few weeks. They repeatedly told her that everything looked normal, she says. Yet the slightest thing—a draft of air, a ray of light—would cause excruciating pain in her head. “I was in pain and nobody was helping me,” the 33-year-old mental-health counselor said. A year and a half after her surgery, Ms. Patterson finally learned why she was suffering. She has a condition known as neuropathic corneal pain, a specialist told her. Read article
Blurred Vision, Burning Eyes: This Is a Lasik Success? By Roni Caryn Rabin
From the article: Even now, serious questions remain about both the short- and long-term risks and the complications of this increasingly common procedure. Nearly half of all people who had healthy eyes before Lasik developed visual aberrations for the first time after the procedure, the trial found. Nearly one-third developed dry eyes, a complication that can cause serious discomfort, for the first time. The authors wrote that “patients undergoing Lasik surgery should be adequately counseled about the possibility of developing new visual symptoms after surgery before undergoing this elective procedure.” Read article
Many LASIK patients may wind up with glare, halos or other visual symptoms, study suggests By Ariana Eunjung Cha.
From the article: Many LASIK patients may wind up with glare, halos or other visual symptoms, study suggests. A team of researchers from the Food and Drug Administration, the National Eye Institute and the Department of Defense would like to make sure you weigh the potential risks to your eyes more seriously… On Wednesday, the group released a follow-up report in JAMA Ophthalmology that provides more sobering information. The study suggests that the percentage of people who undergo LASIK and wind up with new visual symptoms — such as double images, glare, halos or starbursts — may be much higher. The data was based on a questionnaire that looked at patient satisfaction with their vision and at visual and dry-eye symptoms following surgery. Read article
LASIK eye surgery should be taken off market, former FDA adviser says.
From the article: Abraham Rutner said LASIK surgery damaged his vision and nearly ruined his life. “It’s a devastation that I can’t even explain,” Rutner told CBS News medical contributor Dr. Tara Narula…
[Edward] Boshnick estimates he’s treated thousands of patients with LASIK complications…
Paula Cofer had surgery 19 years ago, “and from day one my vision was an absolute train wreck and it still is today,” she said. She started a LASIK complications support group on Facebook and quickly found she was not alone. “You really have to understand you’re risking your only pair of eyes,” Cofer said…
“Essentially we ignored the data on vision distortions that persisted for years,” said Morris Waxler, a retired FDA adviser who voted to approve LASIK. He now says that vote was a mistake. Read article
Lasik MD patients allege nerve damage, file class action lawsuit.
From the article: At least two Canadians are suing a national chain of laser eye surgery clinics and asking others to join them after they developed a rare and extremely painful complication.
Christopher Ouellet and Krystel Terzian were supposed to see better following the popular elective procedure, but they allege the cornea operation performed at Lasik MD clinics instead triggered unrelenting eye pain. Ouellet is the lead plaintiff in the new first-of-its-kind class action lawsuit.
“It completely ruined my life. It destroyed everything. It made me lose my job. It made me lose the things I like to do in life,” said Ouellet. The pain has made him contemplate suicide at times, he added. “I want justice, compensation and I want them to pay for what they did to me and the others. And they’re going to pay.” Read article
Should LASIK Eye Surgery Be Banned? Here’s Why Some People Say Yes
From the article: In 2016, Cronin was found dead of a single, self-inflicted bullet wound. He was 27 years old. In the suicide note he left on his body, he wrote that the after-effects of LASIK surgery were one reason he had ended his life. Burleson [Cronin’s mother], an OB-GYN who prides herself in understanding the medical world, told Healthline she’s not alone in her grief. Through support groups and social media, she’s connected with 23 others who have lost a family member to suicide after experiencing complications from LASIK…
“The FDA needs to pull the plug on the entire industry,” [Paula Cofer] said…
“The [FDA] is deeply embarrassed by the whole process,” he said. “There is a simple solution: they can just tell the truth. But they won’t. They want to save face. Institutions don’t like to say ‘I’m sorry.’” [said Morris Waxler, PhD]. Read article
Videos
Is LASIK Safe? Inside Edition 12/14/2018
Thirty-five year old meteorologist and mother of two, Jessica Starr, died by suicide after suffering complications of laser eye surgery. Twenty-seven year old U.S. Army veteran, Max Cronin, left a suicide note blaming laser eye surgery complications.
Olympian, Steven Holcomb talks about suicide attempt. CBS News
Although LASIK is not mentioned in this video, Steven Holcomb’s vision problems started after LASIK surgery, according to Holcomb’s book But Now I See: My Journey from Blindness to Olympic Gold. LASIK surgeons routinely misdiagnose post-LASIK ectasia as “keratoconus” in an effort hide this growing epidemic. Holcomb was found dead at the age of 37 in his room at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid, New York, on May 6, 2017.
Hidden camera investigation into LASIK clinics - Global TV 16x9
The US Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to LASIK providers for false advertising of LASIK. However, the Canadian government remains silent – and many Canadians aren’t aware of the risks. 16x9 producer Brennan Leffler investigates.
Explosive Dutch LASIK Documentary
Dutch filmmakers expose hidden risks of LASIK (with English subtitles).
Is laser eye surgery riskier than people think? - Good Morning America 6/14/2018
Heed the warnings of patients with 20/20 hindsight.
Hidden dangers of laser eye surgery that’ve led to suicide - Daily Mail TV 1/25/2019
An eye-opening exposé on laser eye surgery. In this DailyMailTV exclusive, we focus on the horrifying hidden dangers of laser eye surgery that have even lead to suicide.
Podcasts
Is LASIK Safe? Eye Surgeon Reveals Hidden Risks | Dr. Cynthia MacKay, MD on Real Alex Clark
Dr. Cynthia MacKay, MD, an ophthalmologist opposed to LASIK, tells all about the dangers of this surgery with Alex Clark.
BlackAmericaWeb.com
Should You Get LASIK Surgery? The Answer May Surprise You. An interview with ophthalmologist, Dr. Cynthia MacKay. Listen here
Tips to Keep You Healthy, Happy, and Motived with Kristen Harper. VoiceAmerica
Risks, side effects, and long-term consequences of LASIK eye surgery. With guest Paula Cofer, LASIK patient advocate. Listen here