Lasik Eyes Surgery - Out of the Mouths of LASIK Surgeons

Author

Out of the Mouths of LASIK Surgeons

Sandy

2006-03-22, 4:23 pm

Out of the Mouths of LASIK Surgeons and Co-Managing ODs

These are comments that refractive surgery patients are hearing from
their "doctors". It's no wonder patients are angry and frustrated, and
that LASIK litigation is a rising tide.

"Are you constantly comparing both eyes?"

"We don't treat pain."

"From a pure visual acuity stand point, your results are outstanding".

"My recommendation is to give it time as many of these symptoms may
resolve".

"You can read 1 letter on the 20/20 line and guess 2 others, that means
you're 20/20"

"Remember, you SAID you had halo's BEFORE surgery!"

"I told you that this was ELECTIVE surgery, there's no medical reason
to have had it, after all, glasses and contacts have worked perfectly
for years...."

"Yes, you still need glasses AFTER LASIK, but now they are much
thinner, and more stylish...."

"Of course, you KNOW you had SUPER-HUMAN vision before LASIK with your
glasses. There's no way LASIK can duplicate THAT......"

"That MUST have been a condition you had BEFORE LASIK. You just never
noticed that you had it!"

"You're the first patient I've had out of the 5,000 I've done that's
had ANY problems at all!"

"You're just going to have to drive carefully. You know, there are a
lot of one-eyed drivers out there."

"Well, those are the breaks."

"Don't ever let anyone else ever touch your eyes again!"

"I'm sorry I can't help you!"

"What exactly do you want me to do for you?"

"I don't have any magic for you. It's not like we can grab a pencil and
erase the scars"

Surgeon, frowning over a 20/50 refraction: "I know I CALCULATED it for
20/20."

"Are you always this emotional?"

"We have no idea what your vision will be 1 year post-op."

"Well, it's like this: The operation was a success, but the patient
died."
"If I looked up complication in the dictionary, your name would be
there."

"I want you to go home and meditate each night that you LIKE your
glasses" (After LASIK regression.)
"Headaches? You should see a neurologist."

"It's like I tell my kids, focus on what you can do (SEE), not what you
can't."

"Only second to you, did I want your surgery to be a success!"

"We just need a tincture of time."

"We will have to wait for technology to catch up with YOUR problems."

"We have had only one other patient with your complications."

"We have improved our standards of care since your surgery. Oh! We have
TWO new lasers now, would you like to SEE them?"

"Just look at the things that you can focus on."

"You're really doing great considering what you've been through."

"So, are you glad you had LASIK?" (After losing vision in one eye)

"You're just very visually aware".

"I like second opinions. Not that it's a matter of ego, but they just
confirm what I already know."

"Things might have turned out a lot differently for you if I'd lifted
the flap and irrigated.....(he added some other things he could have
tried)....Bummer, huh?"

"I feel sorry for you"

"If you wait a few years there will be other options for you"

"We can do more RK surgery" (like I need any more incisions cut into my
corneas)

"This is the best we can do for you"

"Too bad you didn't wait for LASIK"

"You and I are seeing each other so much, we might as well be married."

"We've run out of options with you contact lenses"

"Your eyes is great, I dont know why you are saying that you can not
see well"

"Go home and enjoy your vision- don't come to my clinic
again-everything is ok with you"

"Wait a year or two....we will have a good option for reducing double
images and GASH"

"That's what you are saying, that you can not drive at night.....I am
not sure it is true"

"I had to quit RK, because previous patients kept bringing lawyers with
them for checkups."

"I wouldn't go to him for a second opinion, I wouldn't let him operate
on my dog".

"I'll get things right for you no matter what it takes." Said after PRK
and A/K, "Now, we could do Lasik and even R/K. I promise to stand by
you, and won't quit until you have good vision".
After my A/K enhancement, which was promised to solve my
problems......... "Sure HOPE that does it for ya"!

"My policy is no refunds. We get it right no matter how many surgeries
it takes!!! Eventually, something will work!"

"I don't know why you are unhappy - I have patients with 5 diopters of
astigmatism."

"A blind man would kill you for your vision."

"As you grow older your pupil will shrink and you won't notice the
scars".

"You were -9 and -10 diopters. Now you don't have to wear contacts...
you've got to look at the total picture..."

"Well you weren't expecting to see that great........were you?"

"YOU'RE the one who signed the consent form."

"Just try not to notice the ghosts."

"Your brain just has to get used to seeing this way."

"Just drive around with your dome light on or have someone else drive."

"I just advised a guy with pupils your size to not have Lasik based on
your experience."

"At your age you would have developed dry eyes anyway."

"Your left eye is just 'in sympathy' with your right...you're trying
too hard to see and fuzzing things up!"
"Sometimes we can't get all the epithelial ingrowth out." (First time
I'd heard that one.)

"Your left flap looks great; not sure why you think you're having dim
light, night time/ starbursting problems. I don't see anything."

Me: What is happening to me? Why are the starbursts getting larger?
Surgeon: Give it time, you're "micro-healing".

"I don't feel sorry for you. I have many, many patients who are far
worse off than you."

"Car manufacturers seem to be making headlights brighter these days. We
have alot of patients complaining about that. They think it has
something to do with the surgery, but it's the headlights."

"What I ASKED you to do was to say if you like 'one' or 'two' better!
All you have to do is SAY 'one,' or 'two'!
Those are the ONLY right answers! Anything else is JUST WASTING TIME!"

"Now you told me earlier the glasses over that contact seemed better.
You're not telling me the truth now!"

'There is no way the laser caused your floaters. Everybody has them
they just don't know it. As a matter of fact, I know of this older
gentleman who happens to be a trap shooter and, well it's quite funny,
his grandchildren makes fun of him when he shoots at imaginary targets,
ha ha ha ha'

"Your visual needs must be very high."

"I'm so sorry. This is not what we like to see after LASIK. Your eye
must scare the heck out of LASIK surgeons."

"Be glad you're not blind"

"Hang in there."

"You SHOULD be able to see this!!"

Ragnar

2006-03-22, 4:23 pm

You've got a lot to say considering you just LOST your case that you
have been pursuing for years.

On 18 Mar 2006 23:40:16 -0800, "Sandy" <sandy@savvysneaks.com> wrote:

>
>
>Out of the Mouths of LASIK Surgeons and Co-Managing ODs
>
>These are comments that refractive surgery patients are hearing from
>their "doctors". It's no wonder patients are angry and frustrated, and
>that LASIK litigation is a rising tide.
>
>"Are you constantly comparing both eyes?"
>
>"We don't treat pain."
>
>"From a pure visual acuity stand point, your results are outstanding".
>
>"My recommendation is to give it time as many of these symptoms may
>resolve".
>
>"You can read 1 letter on the 20/20 line and guess 2 others, that means
>you're 20/20"
>
>"Remember, you SAID you had halo's BEFORE surgery!"
>
>"I told you that this was ELECTIVE surgery, there's no medical reason
>to have had it, after all, glasses and contacts have worked perfectly
>for years...."

Ace

2006-03-22, 4:23 pm

looks like theres alot of incompentent surgeons out there with all
kinds of excuses.

more quotes from surgeons:

1. your eyes just healed wrong
2. keep giving it time
3. surgeon looking at patient with 20/40 vision
"your vision improved 10 fold! You used to be 20/400 UCVA before lasik!"

serebel

2006-03-22, 4:24 pm

Sandy and the usual idiot(ACE) are regurgitating one of the threads
from "flappie" again.
Seems that no one's buying it there, so they're taking a shot here.