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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > May 2005 > Altered and Counterfeit LASIK Laser Use Exposed
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Altered and Counterfeit LASIK Laser Use Exposed
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| http://www.usaeyes.org/counterfeit_lasik_lasers.htm
I just saw this on the CRSQA site! This is disturbing news. What are
the types of possible unintended outcomes from this type of misuse of
the lasers? If someone has been damaged by this kind of misuse, how
could they know, and what would their recourse be? Also, how does one
determine which centers use these altered lasers? Is there a place
where names are going to listed? Will this news be going to the press?
How will this problem be policed?
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~RT
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| Glenn - USAEyes.org 2005-05-31, 5:54 pm |
| Disturbing indeed, however it appears that fewer than 10 refractive
surgeons are using altered lasers. Compared to the about 6,000 laser
users out there, that is a small percentage, but a totally
unacceptable number, nonetheless.
Obviously there have been no studies to compare the outcomes from a
legitimate laser and a counterfeit laser, but we have not had an
unusual number or type of complaints from patients that could be
reasonably attributed to an altered laser.
I would suppose recourse would be litigation by the patient. I cannot
imagine how a surgeon could defend the use of a laser altered to
operate outside of the parameters determined by the FDA to be safe and
effective.
At this moment, the only way to know if a laser is altered is with due
diligence. This has always been one of our 50 Tough Questions For Your
Doctor. One method would be to contact the manufacturer and check if
the doctor is listed as a legitimate user. We have links to all laser
manufacturers on our website and in the referenced article.
It is the responsibility of the FDA to respond to a problem like this,
and they have been responding. So has the manufacturer. So has
USAEyes.org. All of us have sent letters and otherwise contacted
doctors suspected of having altered lasers. All of our combined
efforts have not stopped the practice completely.
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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