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Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 5/16/08 Section: News
New risks in Lasik procedure?
Study finds that certain traits, like dry eyes, make surgery complications more likely
Pamela Ellermann
Although Lasik eye surgery has relieved 8 million Americans of the need to wear glasses or contact lenses, new concerns about surgical risks are being raised on the eve of its 10-year anniversary.
New findings show that people who are not suitable candidates for the procedure for a variety of reasons are at greater risk for a problem during the surgery. With up to 700,000 Americans going under the knife each year, that leaves substantial room for mishap.
General eligibility requires patients to have a consistent glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years and limits candidates to those over 18 years old.
Qualities that make candidates less ideal include dry eyes or scarring of the cornea, according to the Eye Surgery Education Council.
In response to recent media attention about complications that arise from the surgery, the Food and Drug Administration plans to provide new graphics and text to make the risks of this surgical procedure more explicit to candidates.
Measures include providing photographs of what halo vision - a possible side effect that makes a person see rings of light around bright light sources - might look like.
The FDA cites dry eyes, loss of vision, glare, halos and double vision as possible risks of the procedure, acknowledging that it is relatively new and that studies on the long-term effects are not available yet.
Although complications from the surgery might be debilitating, the odds of problems are low.
Up to 92.6 percent of patients leave the operating room with 20/40 vision or better, and up to half enjoy 20/20 or better, according to a study by the American Association of Professional Eyecare Specialists.
The Eye Surgery Education Council puts the risk of severe complications at less than 1 percent.
College junior David Weinreb, who after 12 years of nearsightedness got the procedure this January, said he would recommend Lasik surgery to most people, as long as they consider the potential risks.
New findings show that people who are not suitable candidates for the procedure for a variety of reasons are at greater risk for a problem during the surgery. With up to 700,000 Americans going under the knife each year, that leaves substantial room for mishap.
General eligibility requires patients to have a consistent glasses or contact lens prescription for at least two years and limits candidates to those over 18 years old.
Qualities that make candidates less ideal include dry eyes or scarring of the cornea, according to the Eye Surgery Education Council.
In response to recent media attention about complications that arise from the surgery, the Food and Drug Administration plans to provide new graphics and text to make the risks of this surgical procedure more explicit to candidates.
Measures include providing photographs of what halo vision - a possible side effect that makes a person see rings of light around bright light sources - might look like.
The FDA cites dry eyes, loss of vision, glare, halos and double vision as possible risks of the procedure, acknowledging that it is relatively new and that studies on the long-term effects are not available yet.
Although complications from the surgery might be debilitating, the odds of problems are low.
Up to 92.6 percent of patients leave the operating room with 20/40 vision or better, and up to half enjoy 20/20 or better, according to a study by the American Association of Professional Eyecare Specialists.
The Eye Surgery Education Council puts the risk of severe complications at less than 1 percent.
College junior David Weinreb, who after 12 years of nearsightedness got the procedure this January, said he would recommend Lasik surgery to most people, as long as they consider the potential risks.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
LasikExpert
LasikExpert
posted 5/16/08 @ 1:06 PM EST
These Lasik risks are not new, but the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) is taking another look at a patient's quality of life after Lasik.
I work for a nonprofit Lasik patient advocacy. (Continued…)
Los Angeles Lasik Surgery
posted 5/17/08 @ 4:48 AM EST
It is always very important to do all the research necessary and talk to as many vision care providers as possible before you undergo any procedure, especially Lasik eye surgery. (Continued…)
LASIK Patient
posted 5/17/08 @ 3:50 PM EST
LasikExpert is a wolf in sheeps clothing with nothing more than a high school diploma. Read all about him and the scam that he operates on the front page of lasikdisaster. (Continued…)
Finding Low Cost Lasik Surgery
posted 7/13/08 @ 11:22 AM EST
If I go to South Africa for medical tourism, can I find Lasik Surgery at affordable rates? And is South Africa even a safe option? I've heard mixed reviews. (Continued…)
LasikExpert
posted 7/14/08 @ 1:55 PM EST
Medical tourisim has a unique set of advantages and disadvantages. While the lower cost of surgery away from home may seem an enticing benefit, Lasik is more of a six month process than a 20-Minute Miracle. (Continued…)
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posted 8/17/08 @ 9:01 PM EST
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Lasik Surgery Abroad
posted 10/16/08 @ 12:07 PM EST
Many people have looked abroad for LASIK surgery, especially to Canada as the prices were much cheaper then in the states. However it is very important that people do their own research and understand the risks and possible side effects. (Continued…)
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