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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > November 2005 > Laser surgery 101 in Minneapolis area
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Laser surgery 101 in Minneapolis area
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| tseverson@mn.rr.com 2005-11-15, 10:59 am |
| I am considering laser surgery and am looking for recommendations for a
good eye surgeon in the Minneapolis area. I know absolutely nothing
about LASIK, LASEK, and PRK and am wondering if one of them has become
the dominant procedure to use (and which equipment/technology should be
present).
After years of hearing "you are not a candidate for laser surgery"
from my eye doctor during my annual eye exam, I now (the last couple of
years) hear "you are a candidate for laser surgery in one eye". I
am now attempting to become more educated on the subject and am
wondering where to go to learn about the available options. Your
suggestions are greatly appreciated.
TIA, Terry
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| get an evaluation and discuss with your doctor. whats your pescription
by the way?
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| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2005-11-15, 12:55 pm |
| Terry,
We have evaluated and certified a well known surgeon in the
Minneapolis area. Visit
http://www.usaeyes.org/surgeons/sta...k_minnesota.htm
You may also find our 50 Tough Questions For Your Doctor helpful in
evaluating any surgeon. See
http://www.usaeyes.org/faq/tough_questions.htm
I am very concerned about why your doctor had consistently said that
you were not a viable candidate. What were the limitations that
indicated surgery was not appropriate? If you are a marginal
candidate, you will want to proceed with caution.
Glenn Hagele
Executive Director
USAEyes.org
"Consider and Choose With Confidence"
Email to glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org
http://www.USAEyes.org
http://www.ComplicatedEyes.org
I am not a doctor.
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| tseverson@mn.rr.com 2005-11-16, 1:00 am |
| Below is my prescription from my August 2005 eye exam. My current age
is 57 years old.
R Spherical Cylindrical Axis Prism Base
DV or O.D. -.50 +.25 175
NV O.S. +3.00 =
Add O.D +2.25
O.S. +2.25
DV = distance vision, NV = Near Vision, O.D. = right eye, O.S. = left
eye
My eye story is quite different than most individuals. My parents tell
me that when I was a baby (born in 1948) I had a high fever and my eyes
crossed. I grew up wearing glasses from very early childhood until
today but was never successful attempting to straighten my wandering
eye. The net result is my two eyes do not really closely work together
(or so my doctor tells me). I apparently rely upon my right eye and do
not use my left eye very much. To me, with my glasses my vision is fine
but I expect I am mostly using my right eye.
Without my glasses I can see distance objects OK with my right eye and
can even read a newspaper OK until I pull it fairly close to my face.
My left eye does not see distance objects as good as my right eye and
also does not see close up images very well either (e.g. I can't
really read a newspaper with my left eye no matter where I put the
paper).
About 10 years ago I had eye surgery where an eye surgeon used a new
technique and essentially tied a slip knot in some muscle behind my
wandering eye to straighten it. The surgery was successful and my
formally wandering left eye now even tracks with my right eye better
than ever but I still don't use my left eye very much.
So my doctor says my left eye is a candidate for laser surgery but my
right eye does not need any laser surgery (I believe that is correct).
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| tseverson@mn.rr.com 2005-11-16, 1:00 am |
| Read my reply to Ace above for my eye limitations (from my layman's
perspective).
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| Hi Terry,
At 57, you're already presbyopic and cataract age is approaching. It is
hard to imagine an advantage for you of corneal refractive surgery
since the accomodation of your lenses is already likely pretty poor -
therefore you will need glasses anyway.
You risk a poor outcome, dry eye, even worse problems with the ability
of your eyes to work together, and you only have one really good eye to
begin with. Why not wait until you start to develop cataracts and have
refractive lens exchange. When they put in your lens for your cataract
surgery they can adjust your prescription in both eyes so that you're
as near plano as possible... if that's what you want. You may elect to
be a bit nearsighted and wear glasses so that you can see things that
are near to you without your glasses.
If you were told you were NOT a candidate for refractive surgery at one
time, perhaps you should listen. It would be terrible for you to spend
your golden years with visual problems induced by an elective medically
unneccessary procedure.
I know some miserable individuals who are in that very situation. Hang
on to your good correctable vision. You're at the age when you'll need
glasses for the rest of your life anyway.
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| CatmanX 2005-11-19, 5:59 pm |
| If your left eye has turned most of your life, then RS will do nothing
for you.You probably have no binocularity and the left eye being
straight is cosmetic only. Changing Rx will not be helpful most
probably.
In your situation, I would probably not even correct your left eye in
your glasses to make them look cosmetically better, depending on
binocularity.
\
dr grant
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| Lasik Complications 2005-11-19, 5:59 pm |
| You have been extremely lucky you have had an honest eye doctor. I had
lasik at age 52, almost 17 months ago and it has been the worst
decision of my life. It has literally cost me my life. I no longer
work, cannot drive, am still severely depressed, wear glasses that no
longer can correct my vision to 20/15 what it was before my lasik. I
do not want to go anywhere because my vsion reminds me of what I have
lost. Do not gamble your eyes in the crapshoot of lasik. I will never
know how on earth I let someone cut and burn my eyes with the illusion
that i would not need glasses. Like my family doctor told me after I
had lasik, even if there is .0001 chance of complications and your are
that person, for your it is 100%. Lasik Complications
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| serebel 2005-11-20, 1:01 am |
| Or lasik could be the best thing for you. Your best bet is don't let
internet people diagnose you.
The vast majority of people love their results, some don't.
Some make up fictional tales of woe.
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| Lasik Complications 2005-11-22, 5:58 pm |
| For the time being, it appears that the vast majority of people love
their results. But who is officially keeping statistics and how are
they reporting them? This internet person does not want to diagnose
you, I just want to warn you that things can go wrong and go very, very
wrong. I have no background or expertise in medicine, no way I could
possibly diagnose you. But I can tell you that doctors do make
mistakes and sometimes do make wrong diagnoses. My Lord would hold me
accountable the day he calls me if what went wrong with me, I did not
try to warn others. I would not like to see anyone else suffer like I
have for the past 18 months and lost something so very precious, my
good eye sight with glasses. I only wish I had been warned, but my
doctor says oh we have never had any problems. I should have asked him
to put it in writing that I was a good candidate and would not have any
problems. I blew it, I believed him.
Lasik Complications
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| In article <1132700373.822416.70920@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"Lasik Complications" <galin99do@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I only wish I had been warned, but my
> doctor says oh we have never had any problems. I should have asked him
> to put it in writing that I was a good candidate and would not have any
> problems. I blew it, I believed him.
One of the hardest thing about this is that people want LASIK so badly
(because the results are potentially so good) they often only hear what
they want to hear. They go for years looking for the one LASIK Center
that will declare them the perfect candidate and then they gloss over
the warnings, the percentages, the possible complications because they
want it so much. And sometimes they don't divulge information for fear
it will disqualify them.
It is vitally important you disclose your entire medical history before
you have LASIK. Listen to the risks and weigh the possible outcomes.
READ THE CONSENT FORM. Understand the consent form. Remember that this
is elective surgery and things can and do go wrong.
LASIK is not a medical procedure. It is a luxury item. You don't NEED
it. It's not going to save your life or help you live longer. The LASIK
center is going to SELL it to you, in person, through print and radio
ads and glossy brochures. CAVEAT EMPTOR. There is no guarantee. The
consent forms make this clear no matter what the LASIK Center may try to
SELL you. If you believe otherwise, it is because you choose to believe
it. Don't blame the doctor.
However, L-C is correct in one regard. If you are one of the 3%, the
risks may well have been 100% for you. YOU have to go into the procedure
with your eyes wide open (pun intended). Remember, these are your EYES.
--
~RT
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| Lasik Complications 2005-11-25, 5:57 pm |
| I thought that is why we were paying the doctor, to examine our eyes
and determine if we would be good candidates and if there was anything
questionable they would advise us. Most patients do not know how to
read topographies, much less know how the doctor is going to calculate
his formula for the computer. You say "Don't blame the doctor" Then
anyone should be allowed to perform lasik after they take the quick
courses, as no one would have any responsibility except the patient. I
know there have been many lawsuits involving doctors who performed
surgery on the wrong leg, wrong shoulder, wrong patient, but don't
blame the doctor. Doctors go to school for years to learn their field
and that is why they charge what they charge because it took them years
to learn and become professionals. Don't blame the doctor, means to me
that they are not professionals, after all why take an oath and then
try to change professions midstream into a salesperson?
Lasik Complications
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| In article <1132947239.057288.255570@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>,
"Lasik Complications" <galin99do@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I thought that is why we were paying the doctor, to examine our eyes
> and determine if we would be good candidates and if there was anything
> questionable they would advise us.
What was questionable about your eyes? We're you not a good candidate
for LASIK? If you can prove that and that your doctor believed that and
proceeded anyway, you should sue the pants off him or her for
malpractice.
>Most patients do not know how to
> read topographies, much less know how the doctor is going to calculate
> his formula for the computer. You say "Don't blame the doctor" Then
> anyone should be allowed to perform lasik after they take the quick
> courses, as no one would have any responsibility except the patient.
That's not what I meant. this is what I said:
"LASIK is not a medical procedure. It is a luxury item. You don't NEED
it. It's not going to save your life or help you live longer. The LASIK
center is going to SELL it to you, in person, through print and radio
ads and glossy brochures. CAVEAT EMPTOR. There is no guarantee. The
consent forms make this clear no matter what the LASIK Center may try to
SELL you. If you believe otherwise, it is because you choose to believe
it. Don't blame the doctor. "
that was a response to your saying:
" I only wish I had been warned, but my
doctor says oh we have never had any problems. I should have asked him
to put it in writing that I was a good candidate and would not have any
problems. I blew it, I believed him."
The point is, he did put something in writing saying he WOULDN'T
guarantee it. That's called the consent form. You wanted to believe what
he said despite the fact that the writing was on the wall, so to speak.
That's not the doctor's fault, but your desire to gloss over and
overlook the risks. I'm not saying in any way that you deserve a bad
outcome, nor that the doctor can proceed with recklessness.
> I
> know there have been many lawsuits involving doctors who performed
> surgery on the wrong leg, wrong shoulder, wrong patient, but don't
> blame the doctor. Doctors go to school for years to learn their field
> and that is why they charge what they charge because it took them years
> to learn and become professionals. Don't blame the doctor, means to me
> that they are not professionals, after all why take an oath and then
> try to change professions midstream into a salesperson?
I'm not saying don't blame the doctor in cases of malpractice. But
remember that LASIK is elective. The LASIK center wanted to sell an
unnecessary procedure to you. They'll say whatever they want for the
sale. They cover their asses though in the consent forms.
If a customer wants something enough, they'll believe what they want.
The fuzzy point here is that LASIK is often thought of as a medical
procedure rather than a luxury item. And we're conditioned to think of
doctors as selfless healers. LASIK surgeons are not healers. They are
service providers and they want to sell you their product.
--
~RT
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