Lasik Eyes Surgery

Author

Ectasia

Dr. Leukoma

2004-11-03, 7:12 pm

Nothing is going to be decided in this group. The rate of ectasia post-
LASIK is undoubtedly low. Most cases will manifest within the first two
years.

The rate of post-LASIK dry eye is also low...

as is the rate of a number of other problems, which do add-up, IMHO.

The wearing of contact lenses does not lead to ectasia, which is another
reason to consider your contact lens options before choosing LASIK.

However, the overriding issue is the impact of mass refractive surgery.
Will it prove to be a public health problem in the long term, thereby
generating more revenues for ECPs?

DrG

Ragnar Suomi

2004-11-04, 2:10 am

On Thu, 04 Nov 2004 00:01:52 GMT, "Dr. Leukoma"
<drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote:

>Nothing is going to be decided in this group. The rate of ectasia post-
>LASIK is undoubtedly low. Most cases will manifest within the first two
>years.
>
>The rate of post-LASIK dry eye is also low...
>
>as is the rate of a number of other problems, which do add-up, IMHO.
>
>The wearing of contact lenses does not lead to ectasia, which is another
>reason to consider your contact lens options before choosing LASIK.
>
>However, the overriding issue is the impact of mass refractive surgery.
>Will it prove to be a public health problem in the long term, thereby
>generating more revenues for ECPs?
>
>DrG

Lest we forget... the typical "healing" period for LASIK is 6 to 12
months. At the 6 month mark less than 3% of LASIK patients still have
complications. That number would drop considerably after a year, but
by that time, the LASIK patients typically stop going back to their
eye doctor for checkups. Now... keep this in mind.. we are talking
about 3% of lasik patients who are 6 months post surgery.
Compare that with 5% of ALL contact lens wearers who have
complications.. not just the ones that were fitted 6 months ago.. ALL
wearers of contacts.

Rebecca

2004-11-04, 7:08 am

"Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<Xns9596B948611EDdrgleukomacom@204.127.204.17>...

> The rate of post-LASIK dry eye is also low...

Dry eye, according to the last ASCRS survey and most informed consent
forms I have seen recently, is THE single most frequently occurring
complication of LASIK.

Dr. Leukoma

2004-11-04, 7:08 am

rebeccaNO_SPAM@lasermyeye.org (Rebecca) wrote in
news:120ffab4.0411040238.368a17f0@posting.google.com:

> "Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message
> news:<Xns9596B948611EDdrgleukomacom@204.127.204.17>...
>
>
> Dry eye, according to the last ASCRS survey and most informed consent
> forms I have seen recently, is THE single most frequently occurring
> complication of LASIK.

Agreed. I was speaking of long-term, but moreover the point is that all
long-term complications are additive.

Dry eye symptoms are prevalent in contact lens wearers as well.

DrG

Glenn - USAEyes.org

2004-11-04, 11:11 am

>
>Dry eye, according to the last ASCRS survey and most informed consent
>forms I have seen recently, is THE single most frequently occurring
>complication of LASIK.

I can categorically confirm this. Of the thousands of refractive
surgery patients we have evaluated over the years, dry eye is the
single largest unresolved complication at six months postop, and by a
very, very wide margin.

The statement that post-LASIK dry eye is low may be considered
accurate as well. All complications combined equal 3% of patients.
In the opinion of some, that is a low percentage.

Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance

Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

serebel

2004-11-04, 10:10 pm

"Dr. Leukoma" <drgNOSPAM@leukoma.com> wrote in message news:<

>
> Dry eye symptoms are prevalent in contact lens wearers as well.
>
> DrG

That's one of my reasons to have lasik surgery.

SErebel