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Your average local science editor,
in his or her quest for examples of astounding
bionic surgery, is completely oblivious to
a simple fact: Millions of people worldwide
have had their vison permanently damaged by
refractive surgery. A few media persons have
recently begun to awake to the problems of
lasik, the most popular eye surgery for correction
of nearsightedness.
A very well known eye surgeon
in this area, who recently retired, was very
much against lasik surgery, and did not perform
it, and advised his patients against it. The
reason: BAD RESULTS. Unfortunately, he does
not want me to mention his name. Likewise,
a new surgeon in this area also does not perform
Lasik, for the same reasons.
I believe it would behoove ANYONE
considering LASIK or PRK surgery to consult
such a surgeon or optometrist (who objects
to refractive surgery), before risking his
or her precious vision. Getting all your information
on such a risky procedure from someone WHO
STANDS TO EARN THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM YOUR
DECISION is not wise. There is an obvious conflict
of interest involved in advising you about
the procedure, when your “YES” answer
means huge profits to the doctor.
We sincerely hope you will take
the time to search out an eyecare professional
who objects to LASIK and PRK, and consider
BOTH SIDES of the debate before taking the
plunge. We recommend the same LASIK WEB SITE
which the above mentioned doctor recommended
to his patients:
http://www.surgicaleyes.org
(Be sure to see the press releases,
and especially the ongoing debate in the chatroom.
You have nothing to lose but a lot of money
and your precious eyesight.)
A few common problems arising
from Lasik and / or PRK surgery:
Dry eye condition, often requiring
eye drops, possibly for life.
Refractive surgery does not
correct presbyopia, the condition which requires
nearly all persons over 40 to wear bifocals
or reading glasses. Therefore, if someone tries
to tell you that surgery will allow you to
permanently throw away your glasses, HE'S LYING!!!
Presbyopia, or “aging
eyes,” is caused by the natural hardening
of the “crystaline lens” which
is behind your iris. This is the focusing mechanism
of your eye. As you age, the lens becomes more
rigid, and less able to change shape in order
to focus at different distances. When this
happens, we need bifocals or reading glasses
to see near objects which we could see without
glasses or with our single vision glasses before
presbyopia. Even if laser surgery corrects
your distance vision, after age 40 or 45, you
will still need reading glasses or bifocals
to see books or other near objects.
Radically decreased contrast
sensitivity, especially for such activities
as night-driving. Studies have shown that MOST
patients have this problem, which makes night
driving dangerous. See the above website for
information on this hazard.
Generally poor vision at night
is very common after surgery.
Minor risk of infection, blindness,
even death after surgery. If you don't believe
this one, ask to read the waivers you'll be
asked to sign before your surgery. Ask to see
them on a day before you go under the laser,
so you'll have more than 5 minutes to read
and digest the magnitude of what you're signing
away.
Some folks we've talked to have
been told by their doctor, "We think we
can get you to 20/40, and that's nearly perfect
vision." Well, if that's nearly perfect
vision, WHY does Wyoming ban you from driving
if you're 20/41? THINK: WHAT IF YOU DON'T MAKE
20/40? WHO'S GOING TO BE YOUR CHAUFFEUR FOR
THE REST OF YOUR LIFE? (It is quite common
to not be correctible with further treatment
if 20/40 vision is not obtainable. And often
in these cases, one cannot reach 20/40 after
surgery with contacts or glasses either!)
There are many more complications
resulting from this surgery, which I have not
addressed here (see SurgicalEyes.org for
details.)
I can just hear the surgeons'
objections: "Well, Steve just is afraid
his livelihood (fitting eyeglasses) will evaporate
if everyone gets lasik surgery!"
On the contrary:
1) Just about everyone who gets
laser surgery will still need eyeglasses, and
2) Even if they didn't, it would
create a tremendous market for our great non-prescription sunglass
department, as does the wearing of contact
lenses, which are also not our specialty.
I JUST HATE TO SEE INNOCENT
PEOPLE GET HURT IN THE QUEST OF ASTRONOMICAL
PROFITS.
PLEASE visit SurgicalEyes.org before
you make a decision you'll regret.
Stephen
J. Grabowski, ABOC, FNAO
Certified Optician
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