Don’t you know someone who has had Lasik eye surgery? I do…multiple people and most have enjoyed improved vision as a result. We have a large ophthalmologic practice in my area and these eye doctors appear to be very good at what they do.
However, the national media has reported an increasing number of problems with Lasik surgery and now even the slow-footed Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is starting to take a look. The problems include painful dry eyes and fuzzy or double vision which cannot be corrected with glasses.
The FDA has even recruited the National Eye Institute (part of the National Institute of Health) to study how patients lives have been affected by laser eye surgery. Interestingly, the laser eye surgery industry is experiencing a slow-down in the number of annual procedures, possibly due to the weakening economy.
My bet is that many of the current problems experienced by patients arise from overly eager doctors “pushing” Lasik eye surgery on marginal candidates. Anyone want to take my bet?