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Home > Archive > Lasik Eyes Surgery > August 2006 > 1:1000 odds of ectasia, 1:2000 odds of cornea transplant after lasik!
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1:1000 odds of ectasia, 1:2000 odds of cornea transplant after lasik!
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| Cutting a corneal flap for LASIK can cause structural weakening of the
cornea. Although LASIK has been performed since 1996 in the USA, the
cutting of corneal flaps has been performed worldwide since 1959 for
treating corneal diseases and refractive errors. I have learned that if
I cut too deep of a flap or remove too much corneal tissue with LASIK,
I can structurally compromise corneal integrity, resulting in a
"weakened" cornea that may "bulge" months to years after LASIK. This is
called "ectasia" and can cause significant regression of the LASIK
treatment, resulting in the recurrence of significant nearsightedness
and/or astigmatism. Retreatment is not possible and would even make the
regression worse. In the rare case of extreme ectasia, a corneal
transplant would be necessary to regain useful vision. I have a 1/1000
incidence of corneal ectasia and I have had one patient require a
corneal transplant after LASIK.
The above complications are all rare and can usually be successfully
treated. However, treatment may not completely correct these, or other
problems, and the patient could, rarely, experience a permanent,
non-treatable decrease in their best-corrected vision after LASIK. The
chance of "going completely blind" from LASIK is probably zero. In the
"worst case" scenario, which is extremely rare (approximately 1 in 2000
cases) a patient would require a corneal transplant to correct a LASIK
complication.
Potentially serious complications...
THIN FLAP-result of intralase
FLAP WRINKLES-happens in every lasik case, rarely severe
CENTRAL CORNEAL ISLANDS-1% chance
EPITHELIAL INGROWTH-increased risk with enhancement
HAZE UNDER THE FLAP-due to aggressive healing response
DISLOCATED CORNEAL FLAP-can happen for the rest of your life
PERMANENT UNCORRECTABLE BLURRY VISION OR "GHOST IMAGES"
common complication of lasik
RETINAL HEMORRHAGE OR DAMAGE TO THE OPTIC NERVE
suction device on the eye may sometimes cause it
INFECTION-rare but serious
CORNEAL ECTASIA-1:1000 odds, much higher if thin cornea
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| Tom Lucas 2006-08-30, 8:33 am |
| "Ace" <acemanvx@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156911626.779458.251420@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
> I have a 1/1000 incidence of corneal ectasia and I have had one
> patient require a
> corneal transplant after LASIK.
One surgeon's results - hardly a comprehensive suite of data but 1 in a
1000 is not what I'd call risky. However, what would be my risk if I had
never had Lasik? That figure is needed for balance.
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Tom Lucas wrote:
> "Ace" <acemanvx@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:1156911626.779458.251420@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
>
> One surgeon's results - hardly a comprehensive suite of data but 1 in a
> 1000 is not what I'd call risky. However, what would be my risk if I had
> never had Lasik? That figure is needed for balance.
Well if hes a "good" surgeon then your risks are higher with other
surgeons. 1 in 1000 is alot when were talking about ectasia, a very,
very serious complication. Your risks would be zero, youd just be
wearing glasses as usual which you dont seem to mind as much as I do,
ironically. This is why I want to get orthoK to address this. I feel
that very, very few people would get lasik if they believed it to be as
risky as I do.(I know youd disagree)
As ive said, different people have different beliefs and ways of
asserting the risks. Its all how they look into the risks.
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| Tom Lucas 2006-08-30, 4:33 pm |
| "Ace" <acemanvx@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1156952976.578576.305140@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...
>
> Tom Lucas wrote:
>
>
>
> Well if hes a "good" surgeon then your risks are higher with other
> surgeons.
Surely a lot of the variables are taken out of the surgeon's hands by
the machinery. Anyway, this is neither here nor there. You said 1 in
1000 so let's use that for now.
> 1 in 1000 is alot when were talking about ectasia, a very,
> very serious complication.
Do you know what the odds are of losing an eyeball in an accident? I'll
bet it is lower but I can't get anything out of google. 1 in a 1000 is
pretty low odds for anything.
> Your risks would be zero,
So no one ever got ecstasia before Lasik? Come on Ace you know exactly
what I mean and you are evading the question.
What are the odds of an untouched cornea developing ecstasia - this
number is needed if the 1 in 1000 odds are to be assessed.
> This is why I want to get orthoK to address this. I feel
> that very, very few people would get lasik if they believed it to be
> as
> risky as I do.(I know youd disagree)
If people believed Lasik was as risky as you do then you are right -
there would never be another operation again. Fortunately not everyone
is as averse to risk as you otherwise we would never have been to the
moon or exported our crazy people to America ;-)
However strongly you feel, it is _your_ belief and most other people
feel differently. Maybe one day you'll be proved right but in the
meantime many more millions of people will be freed of their glasses and
put the surgery up to the top of their "best things they've ever done"
list.
> As ive said, different people have different beliefs and ways of
> asserting the risks. Its all how they look into the risks.
>
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| > Surely a lot of the variables are taken out of the surgeon's hands by
> the machinery. Anyway, this is neither here nor there. You said 1 in
> 1000 so let's use that for now.
If its the laser machine that really matters, the risks would be
similar across unless you get a clown surgeon.
> Do you know what the odds are of losing an eyeball in an accident? I'll
> bet it is lower but I can't get anything out of google. 1 in a 1000 is
> pretty low odds for anything.
What does accident have to do with a voluntary elective lasik surgury?
> So no one ever got ecstasia before Lasik? Come on Ace you know exactly
> what I mean and you are evading the question.
The risks shoot way up after lasik. Something avoidable.
> What are the odds of an untouched cornea developing ecstasia - this
> number is needed if the 1 in 1000 odds are to be assessed.
http://www.opt.indiana.edu/lowther/...pidemiology.htm
They found an incidence (the number of new cases per year) of 2 per
100,000.
keratoconus is a rare cornea disorder. Ectasia is a lasik induced
disorder.
> If people believed Lasik was as risky as you do then you are right -
> there would never be another operation again. Fortunately not everyone
> is as averse to risk as you otherwise we would never have been to the
> moon or exported our crazy people to America ;-)
There still would, but much fewer. I read a couple stories of lasik
disasters where the patients were informed very throughtly of the
risks. One lady was reading surgieeyes and other bad lasik stories. Her
surgeon told her not to worry and she knew some friends who said "go
for it" so she got lasik and ruined her eyes. She later found out her
friends *did* have minor problems like mild dry eyes and halos. She
still regrets her lasik to this day saying she couldnt believe she went
thru with the risks and what she knew might happen!
> However strongly you feel, it is _your_ belief and most other people
> feel differently. Maybe one day you'll be proved right but in the
> meantime many more millions of people will be freed of their glasses and
> put the surgery up to the top of their "best things they've ever done"
> list.
The facts can be presented, but the way people interpret the facts
varies. You arent much worried about all those facts and statistics. I
paint a much grimmer picture, especially after reading those 100s of
bad lasik stories and talking to dozens online with a bad experience.
There are those people who will tell you lasik is flawed and damages
every eye and back it up with proof, some of which ive posted here.
Time will tell what happens to those who got lasik and long term
complications. Not everyone is freed of glasses after lasik and you
already know that. For the 90% satisfied, yes lasik was the best thing.
But for that 10% which still amounts for many, its a decision they
regret for life. Ill stick to RGP orthoK or wait for something newer,
better and safer to be invented.
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