| Brent Hanson - LasikFraud.com 2005-01-27, 8:51 am |
| Keeping sight of the risks
Nottingham Evening Post
January 17, 2005
When Dave heard about laser eye surgery he thought he would be finally free
of his spectacles. He had been hampered by glasses since he became
long-sighted at the age of 18.
"It got to the stage where glasses were just getting in the way," said Dave,
a keen sportsman.
So five years ago, impressed by reports of how laser eye treatment could
correct long- and short-sightedness, Dave approached a firm offering the
surgery.
In 1999, he paid £3,200 for the operation on his eye, in which a section of
his cornea, the clear covering over the eye, was removed.
The doctor who performed the surgery, known as laser in situ keratomileusis
(LASIK) told him it had been a success.
But now he is fighting a legal battle, claiming the procedure damaged his
sight.
"All this hype about how you could throw away your contact lenses and
spectacles was not true," said Dave, 53, from Arnold. "I am worse off now
than I was before the operation." Dave claims the firm did not explain the
risks of the operation to him and the procedure has left him with a
condition known as an "irregular astigmatism".
It means his vision has become very variable, changing in different light
conditions and when undertaking different tasks such as reading, watching
television or driving.
The result has been a continuous search for glasses that allow him to see
comfortably in most situations.
"I have had at least ten pairs of spectacles since the operation and spent
more than £3,000," said Dave. "I have had other problems too, a lot of
headaches, visits to the GP and physiotherapy on my neck and back.
"I only have completely clear vision outside on a bright sunny day. I am
furious about it." Dave believes many patients may also have been misled by
firms wanting to sell them laser eye surgery.
And now the National Institute for Clinical Excellence, the NHS watchdog,
has issued new guidance warning patients about the possible risks of laser
eye surgery.
The watchdog has said there is not enough proof the procedure is safe in the
long term to allow it to be used routinely in the NHS. It reported: Evidence
on LASIK suggests it is effective for selected patients with mild or
moderate short-sightedness but evidence is weaker for its effectiveness in
severe short-sightedness and long-sightedness.
There are concerns about the procedure's long-term safety and evidence does
not appear adequate to support its use within the NHS without special
arrangements for consent and further research.
Professor Bruce Campbell, Chairman of the Interventional Procedures Advisory
Committee, which considered the issue, said: "We know that vision gets worse
in a few people after LASIK and eye specialists are also concerned about
possible long-term side-effects.
The watchdog reviewed results of studies into laser eye treatment and
interviewed experts and organisations. It found up to eight out of ten
patients with low to moderate problems with their vision achieved perfect
sight after the procedure. Where their visual problem was classed as
moderate to high this figure fell to between one quarter and one third.
NICE also reported problems including growth of tissue on the cornea,
effects on night-vision and glare.
The procedure is not currently offered on the NHS and while the NICE
guidelines allow it to be provided as part of a research programme, health
service managers are unlikely to introduce in the light of today's report.
Professor Harminder Dua, honorary consultant at the Queen's Medical Centre,
said: "I do not think this will give reassurance to NHS managers. The
investment is substantial and the risk of litigation is high." However, Prof
Dua believes the procedure is safe if doctors are well-trained and patients
are carefully selected.
"I do the procedure fairly regularly but I have a high incidence of turning
people down," he said.
"If there is a risk I will not do it and I advise them not to have it done."
Prof Dua, who is also the vice president of the Royal college of
Ophthalmologists, said he is concerned that some doctors are not adequately
trained and they view treatment as a "commercial enterprise".
The LASIK treatment has generated a steady stream of clients, including
Dave, for Nottingham solicitors, Freeth Cartwright.
Paul Balen, a partner at the firm, is concerned the decision by NICE not to
recommend laser eye treatment on the NHS may lead more people to seek help
from private firms, where treatment may not be safe.
Mr Balen said: "It is critical before any patient agrees to this kind of
operation and hands over money they make sure they have the right condition
and they are aware of the risks."
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