My Laser Eye Surgery Experience | Hidden Lasik Complications
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- Опубліковано 24 січ 2022
- In this video I share with you the events leading up to my Lasik procedure and the results afterwards. Lasik left me with terribly dry eyes and corneal inflammation which went untreated resulting in me developing corneal neuropathic pain a.k.a. corneal neuralgia which I am still battling today. Corneal Neuralgia is treatable but there are very few specialists, treatments are expensive and not covered by insurance. This video was created for a Canadian campaign to have this disease covered and recognized by our government. If you are a Canadian citizen please consider visiting the following website to see how you can help with our mission. www.caringforcorneas.ca/
These complications that happened to me can occur with LASIK, PRK or SMILE. If you want to learn more about the risks of these elective surgeries you can visit lasikcomplications.com/
Also a good investigation done by CTV on Lasik risks • W5: Rare but devastati...
#lasik #dryeye #cornealneuralgia
My optometrist wears glasses. I asked why he hadn't had LASIK. He said he won't risk it, he's fine and his eye sight is not terrible. There are side effects that could risk his job. His advice was "don't get it unless it's bad for your heath in some way". I love that dude.
bummer to hear, i was planning on getting it one day, people ive worked with who had it done claimed it was the best thing theyve ever done. perfect vision
@@fredfinksare all the risks this man talks about worth a chance for 'perfect eyes'?
@@karinisvetcool No, thats why its a bummer. Prior to viewing the vid, i was only aware of starbursts affecting some, and thought it was minor %/went away. otehrwiese, 'the best thing ' perfect vision. major bummer
I got LASIK done at 28. I enjoyed better than 20/20 until 47. Now I'm back into glasses just due to natural lens hardening. It was great and trouble free for almost 20 years. Now I am waiting for the next generation of replacement Lenses. 5 to 10 years out. Likely I'll do one eye at a time when the time comes
Ive had dry eyes my entire life. I considered lasik twice, and both times the lasik clinic made it seem that it was no problem and i shouldnt worry BUT my normal house doctor told me both times, dont do it because dry eyes will complicate things. I listened and decided it wasnt worth the risk, i never though of this again untill i saw this video... seems like i dodged a bullet without knowing. makes me appreciate my glasses (i cant wear contacts as my eyes are too dry and my vision blurs)
Every time I browse for eye laser clinics, the doctors are still wearing glasses, I’m like “Nope!”
Yup! Pretty funny but true
that's because most doctors are old and they have presbiopia, which can keep varying as they age. so lasik is not good option at that age
@CHEESE654 How can most doctors be old lol. Do you not finish med school till you're 50? 😆 I'd say less are old because they make enough to retire young
@@RamsayRides most doctors we visit are usually in their 30s or 40s. presbiopia develop in mid 30s. i have also heard that the eye doctors require 20/20 vision for their profession. so if there is small regression in power they gotta go back to glasses. so lasik is not worth it for them
the reason lasik is worth it for us is because we are in our early 20s. so we still got almost 2 decades of life without glasses. I don't care if I have to wear glasses in my 40s.
Perhaps the hardest to deal with in situations such as this is the humiliation and loneliness from not being taken seriously. The world is a rough place, but there are others who have gone through similar things and we can understand each other. Keep going and congratulations on your progress thus far.
Thank you
Yes, many people in my immediate life don't take it seriously.
Sometimes I just want to shout I'm "visually impaired" at work when my visual symptoms post-LASIK get bad.
It's very hard to explain to the average person that I'm seeing higher order aberrations that can't be corrected with glasses or contacts...it sucks and makes you into an entirely different person.
Thank you for this comment.
I have never done Lasik ,but once many years ago wore contact lenses and ever since I have severe night vision problems😢 I've been depressed ever since.
I work for an optometrist and am extremely myopic. You couldn't even pay me to go to LASIK. So many people have complications. Thank you for bringing this up. Im sorry you have to deal with bad side effects.
Try lasek. I had a high prescription and have no regrets. Downside is I have light sensitivity
For any surgery there can be complications, but LASIK has been done for decades now and has been shown to be very safe in studies.
@@RuckFussia lasik still comes with higher risk than other surgeries. Like flap complications.
@@mr.animated6288 Than what other surgeries? It's as minimally invasive as a surgery gets and its safety record is great. If you get the surgery you accept the risk.
@@RuckFussia there is lasek like I said and there is smile which is said to be better than both. I had lasek done, they don’t cut a flap so there’s no risk of flap complications.
I have your exact conditions with dry eye, been contemplating lasik for years and now you have solidified my decision to avoid it forever. Sorry for your misfortune and I wish you the best. This video has possibly saved many people from suffering the same fate and for that I thank you.
I personally feel the medical professionals are advertisers for the new thing for that thing patients come in to get help for. So many complications that come from taking their "professional medical advice". It's best to educate ourselves as best as we can and be very knowledgeable about what we are getting into.. some things that came from these medical professionals:
1. Opioid crises
2. Over prescribing of antibiotics or medications
3. Medical Device / implant complications...that they push for kick backs..
Etc.....
I know it's not all of them but, nonetheless knowledge is power.
Thanks for sharing.... I pray all gets better for you!
@@Promiseland2024opioid crisis isn't doctors fault. That sfuff was legal before 1930 and things were fine. This is a social problem. way WAY deeper than you are giving it credit for.
I spent 5 years on dope, and you wanna know something interesting? I did it because nobody would give me enough painkillers for me to function after a neck injury, so, curious while hanging out with my dealer all day at his place, I asked every single person who came through, and out of the 12 people, 9 of them had got back or neck surgery at least once before. (Everyone was between 18 and 25- even my dealer said he got back surgery when he was 6).
Another thing, the _worst_ users (Like who would pawn their car, etc.) were the 3 who said they never had any surgery or injuries. Like they were self-meducating something mental instead. They were the ones who no dose could ever satisfy.
Why not having prk? There is not flap cutted with prk, and eye heals back to normal. All europeans doctors prefer prk, while for some reason in the us they all do lasik.
@@SponsoredByINNBCI got to this video after watching a video on serious complications from PRK! I'm thinking I'll stick with my glasses, thankyouverymuch. 🤓
@@Promiseland2024I remember learning that a dear friend of my mom's had started smoking (back in the 60's) because it was recommended by her obstetrician in order to treat her low blood pressure during pregnancy!
I got LASIK done around 2010. No complications. Loved it. I was considered legally blind before surgery. Got it done around 8am. I saw clearer with each passing hour. A couple of days later I looked out a window and I could see the leaves on a tree so clearly that I could also see the veins on the leaves. I could see the roof lines of homes farther away. It’s been several years now (I had a good run) I recently started using readers… I can still drive at night. I guess It’s different for everyone. Stay safe and definitely do your research.
When making a decision such as getting Lasik, it comes down to risk vs benefit. If you're already blind, your benefits are going to outweigh the risks. Glad it worked out for you!
Leafs were the first thing I noticed too
When you say readers do you mean glasses? I never heard some one speak like that I'm confused.
@diamondheart11 If you get surgery for nearsightedness, you sacrifice close vision. Your eyes have a given range of focus. I had PRK and now need reading glasses for looking at things very closely. Before, I could see very close up well, but after 10 feet, blur
Legally blind how? What is your prescription?
I heard a story of a teacher who got the surgery and her complications were so severe that she ended up taking her life. No matter how tempting the magical fix is, I always think of her.
Thought it was a journalist
She was a anchor women (news reporter) in Detroit
omfg thats so sad :(
Unfortunately, I've heard of several cases where people have taken their lives after LASIK. There was a doctor who was doing these surgeries so much that he treated it as a joke. He would even use the laser to make incisions that formed a "happy face" scar in the eye. It was very troubling.
She was an anchorwoman for a news channel in Detroit.
I’m an attorney, and about five years ago met a fellow attorney who told me that he made a career out of LASIK eye complication lawsuits. This fairly brief conversation stuck with me. I tell everyone I know not to even look into it. I’m sorry this happened to you.
So tell me, is a lawyer's job a liar's job?
There are liars in every profession. I like to think that I always act honorably. And you?
@@Karin_not_karen You like to "think"? And you are "acting" honorably? So you do know deep inside how dishonourable you are in reality. .. ? Such a travesty
@@Karin_not_karen Me , I'm not a lawyer. In my line of work only a 1000% of Truth works each time every time. The stakes are so high that there could be loss of life if I "lied"
I had it done about 20 years ago and few problems.
Until I saw this video, I had no idea how lucky I was. I actually went in for laser eye surgery, but they turned me down. They said I wasn’t a candidate because my eyes were too dry. I was really shocked because I rarely ever use eye drops. I never told the person examining me that I have dry eyes. I guess I really dodged a bullet. I’ll stick to glasses
Please consider orthokeratology! I'm scared of lasik and decided to go for it and it's literally amazing! You just wear lenses at night while you sleep and take them out in the morning and you see perfectly without the need for glasses or daytime lenses!
@@EvgeniyaJZ I heard about that recently on a podcast (Can’t remember what it was). The woman who opened the clinic was Asian and she was prescribed glasses at a very young age. It inspired her to go into the field of optometry and the specialization you speak of. She has a thriving practice in CA somewhere. And she does exactly what you describe for her patients.
@@MissTeaq orthokeratology is available in many clinics throughout the country now, and is now partially covered by the insurance - which wasn't the case just 5 years ago. I'm sure you can find a clinic that offers it in your state. Choose the one with good reviews and good luck!
That just shows that the doctors can be trusted, and are not just in it for the money. I had it done and am really glad I did. After many many years I would make the same choice again.
@@EvgeniyaJZ Yeah, I did that and ended up with a corneal ulcer from it. There is risk to everything.
I’m a doctor, just got it, and I’ve been suffering with my eyes nonstop. No, I did not know. They don’t teach us anything about the eyes unless you go into ophthalmology. I don’t think anyone should feel bad that they didn’t know, cuz the knowledge is intentionally hidden away.
Sorry to hear that. You're not the first doctor I've heard of that didn't know better. I hope you improve soon
Always ask tech for a copy of your results and ask for complete explanation of results. It's YOUR record.
Save your questions for the doctor. Write everything he says down. Type it up and ask the doctor to sign it.
@@christineribone9351 Even better, make it a legislation that you are reequired to get a copy of the results and complete explaination of them. Don't rely on people competence. Because it's the lack of competence, and the trust that ordinary people have towards medical providers that's what the corporate greed feasts upon.
I mean, I’m not a doctor and I looked up the research on complications and side effects- the statistics and predictors. A doctor who wouldn’t do that for themselves is questionable IMO. LASIK is one of the best decisions I ever made.
@shaken bacon; So true.
I didn't know about the extent of Lasik complications until my 70's. That's when I learned I have cataracts.
It was then that I conducted my own research and discovered my eye problems began when I got Lasik. These problems amplify when you get cataract surgery. It's a domino effect.
This was enough to steer me clear away from Lasik. For years eye doctors kept telling me that I was the "perfect candidate" for Lasik. But after hearing about a family friend who could no longer drive at night after the surgery I was always afraid to do it. Recently looked into it again and came across this vid, I'll just stick with contacts and glasses. So sorry about your experience.
Anyone who says, “perfect candidate for lasik” is basically asking you to buy their product. They just want money
Ugh someone told me the only negative thing was they couldn’t see well at night also
@@maryanne2025 I'm in a similar situation. I was near-sighted (so things in the distance looked blurry) and got LASIK about 5 years ago and I absolutely love it, no complications, no more glasses / contacts, definitely the best large investment I've ever made and I would do it again any day.
However, I also feel like my night vision got worse than it was with glasses. During a checkup a couple of weeks ago I asked the doctor who performed my surgery where this comes from and he explained that LASIK is usually performed in a way that optimizes day vision because that's the more important one for most people. They *could* set up the laser in a way that prioritizes improving your night vision, but that would result in worse eye sight during the day and might lead to you having to use glasses for reading. (No idea how true this is, just repeating his words.)
I don’t see well at night with glasses or contacts either - frankly, it’s just something a lot of people with bad vision have to deal with, either way.
I went to 3 establishments and the first 2 were big volume highly advertised places. 1st said it wasnt available and would need PRK, never saw the doctor. Second yes you can have lasik never saw doctor. 3rd the doctor came in and looked at my eyes and said Im pretty sure we can do it but need to do a test to make sure. I went with the 3rd and have abosolutey no regrets and would do it again in a heart beat. I feel bad for those that have issues because bad practice so shop around I almost never did and yes I get halos of car lights at night but worth it for me.
I went to a place in Lancaster Pennsylvania who told me I was a great candidate for lasik and I was about to do it until I saw your video. I then decided to get a second opinion and went to king of Prussia lasik center who not only said I was a perfect candidate but wanted to perform the lasik procedure that same day. I decided to get one final opinion and went to Scranton Pennsylvania.. and upon examining my eyes they said that I had a very steep spot in my cornea and that I am not a candidate for ANY type of eye correction procedure.. not even prk. They said that if they performed the procedure my vision would most likely be even worse and that not even contacts or glasses would ever give me perfect vision again. If I did not stumbled upon your video and get those second opinions, I could have most likely ruined my eyes forever. I am so sorry for what happened to you but if it means anything you have saved me from going down a very similar path and I will forever be grateful for that. It’s very important that people know a lot of these lasik institutes are a cash grab and will pretty much tell anyone that they’re a candidate, so please I highly recommend getting multiple opinions. The north eastern eye center in Scranton is a sincere and honest place if anyone is near that area. They were the only place I visited who told me I was not a good candidate
Wow that's great that you went for that third opinion. Happy for you Christian
Can I ask where in Scranton you went? They seem to be a trustworthy place!
@@theAmandolin yes it was the northeastern eye institute, very great and honest place!
@@christiang8758 thanks so much for taking the time to respond! :)
@@theAmandolin yeah absolutely, I wish you luck with everything!
There was a tv programme about this in my country once where they interviewed a man who, after the surgery, constantly felt like there were knives/needles in his eyes. "But hey, that only happens in like 5% of cases!" The laser eye company said.
That definitely opened my eyes and when people talk about LASIK, I ALWAYS try to talk them out of it.
My dad got it when his presbyopia got bad. He had ONE eye done at a time, though. Made sure the first one was truly a big improvement after 3 months, then did the other.
The nerves are severed in surgery. Acupuncture and acupressure on gallbladder 1 can fix this. It worked for me. This point restores nerve function in the eyes.
@@CroisMoi is that on the sphenidal bone or the zygomatic bone? I'm trying to find information on this acupressure point. Any more info would be appreciated! Thanks
5% of cases is a lot! Things don't pass approval if it's 1% chance of adverse effects
@@coolbreeze5683 5% too many :(
When the system treats you like that, you never trust the '' experts '' afterwards. I had issues with health professionals but for soft tissue injuries instead (started 5 years ago). I am still unable to function, but I should be fine in 6-12 months. I lost more than half of my twenties because of those injuries. So yeah, I empathize with you.
Sorry to hear that Donald, hope you recover soon
most "Experts" are just businessmen and marketeers masquerading as such
only experts you should trust are the ones whose livelihoods don't depend on you buying their products / services . Eg. scientists in physics, chemistry, computer science etc, even many branches of biology are plagued by conflicting interests, and the subject itself is complex and fuzzy enough that you can produce any results you want , confuse the public with jargon, equivocation, "lie" with statistics and so on
You can also trust mathematicians BTW. Lol
Same “experts” perpetuating the CVAX being “safe and effective”. I have doubted all of western medicines intent and the system as a whole. Insurance is a scam, most but not all doctors don’t give a shit about you, your just a dollar sign and Stay away from these elective surgeries. I almost had sinus and turbinate surgery but after looking into the side effects, testimonies of those who have been impacted and doing my own research ( words hated by the elite) I opted out.
Not sure what soft tissue injuries are and I'm being lazy but I have had plenty of mild to moderate tendon issues and was mis diagnosed for at least 14 years. It took me researching on my own to figure out what every injury was and who could diagnose me properly. Something I couldn't when I was 13. Never trust a doctor basically
We had a family friend in the early 90s who had lasik done and was totally blinded from the procedure. I was a kid back then, and I have no idea what happened to her or if she eventually got her sight back, but the prospect of a botched eye surgery terrified me back then, and stories like yours only seem to validate my life choice to just wear glasses. Thanks for sharing, and I hope all the best for you.
LASIK in the 90s was a completely different procedure from what it is today. It’s a logical fallacy to base your decision off of single stories. Look at the research and statistics. It’s a very safe procedure.
@@Bushwacked487Absolutely not worth the risk. Even if it’s a 99% success rate, permanent nerve damage is not worth potentially being part of the 1%.
@@stfuomgdude it’s not “1%”, it’s microscopically small. LASIK was well worth it to me. Not having to struggle with contacts all the time or deal with glasses was literally life changing.
The early 90s...damn I can only imagine what LASIK was like back then compared to now
Lies because no one has gone blind from laser eye surgery.
Man, I'm so sorry you've had to go through all this. It's hard enough to want to undergo such a scary operation, but then to have it cause so much pain would be absolute hell. Thank you for sharing your story. If there's any silver lining to this, it's that you've been saving other people from that pain. The prospect of Lasik had been enticing to me as well, because glasses and contacts are so expensive and annoying to deal with, but thanks to videos like yours I'm not going anywhere near it. Hopefully things have improved a little more for you now a year later.
Four years ago when I broke my old glasses, I figured now would be a good time to get a laser surgery. I hated having permanent tunnel vision (my glasses were really small) and had my eyes checked. When I declared my intention of wanting LASIK, the optician asked me why i had to do this and that the chances of success are only 95 percent and that I shouldnt ruin my otherwise perfectly fine eyes. I was convinced and opted for bigger (and thinner) glasses instead. Tunnel vision problems gone, mostly feeling alright.
This video just now really made me appreciate the hell out of the optician and he honestly might have saved my life…
Yes, reading your story makes me very jealous that I didn't encounter an honest optician like that before I had my surgery. I'm glad you did though!
@@RamsayRides these things you really have to do extensive research. It’s your eyes. It’s important.
@@RamsayRides Since my career (military) often involves working the field and I ended up breaking many glasses on training, I thought I would follow my friends also in the army who all got LASIK and told me its the best thing ever. Instead I seem to always be unlucky and always suffer from side effects, including LASIK. Now as a 21 year old I am very sad that my dream career that I spent 2.5 years trying to get may becoming limited because of my decision to have LASIK (which had complications to begin with) and then be told by a doctor that Accutane was safe for me (low dose, been 6 months since Lasik etc.) only to now suffer problems with severe dry eye disease, significant floaters, blurred vision not treatable with glasses, weird contrast / depth perception issues, among with common halos, starbursts etc. I've tried every drop from LoteMax, Hylo to Restasis and forget buying a car, now I am going to go broke trying to fix my eyes.
@@randomdude1053 They aren't cheap but maybe you could look into scleral lenses. They can correct a lot of visual issue that aren't correctable by glasses and they help a ton with dryness as they vault over your cornea keeping it bathed in tears 100% of the time. They can't fall out like regular contacts either, you actually need a plunger to remove them so maybe the military would allow them? Where in Canada are you?
I'm actually wearing mine right now, my dryness got worse recently and they've been a lifesaver
My optician who performed the surgery told me lie after lie,brushed me off over and over,
Gosh, Ramsay I am soooo sorry to hear about your experience with laser eye surgery 🥺😢 I wish I could give you a big hug and truly thank you for sharing your story. Your story is likely to save many people from going down the wrong path for them, or at least it offers support to others in the same boat who know they are not alone in their recovery. I sincerely hope there is technology soon that can offer a permanent solution to bring your sight and vision health back 💛 I found your video from googling complications with laser eye surgery: again, thank you so much for sharing your story and I'm sure it's very emotional to open up like this.
Thanks so much for your comment Karen ❤
Lasik is amazing, but not for everyone. I have had it myself, and it is life changing. I never had a issue with dry eyes, even wearing contacts. The people with issues is very rare though. In fact, It is something like 1% now. The technology has improved to a point, that dry eyes is common, but only during the healing process. Which can take up to 6 months.
@@saadmanan4915 You should do a consultation and not base a decision based off a non professional opinion lol.
So I had LASIKs done in the spring of 1997. I was in my first year of dental school. My surgeon actually helped develop the procedure. During the surgery, I hear him scream ..”abort….abort!” Well, I was the first patient that the machine had malfunctioned on. It cut too much of the cornea off of one of my eyes. The other was fine. So they had allow it to heal for 3months and then I was to have it repaired. For the remainder of my school year, I had 20/20 in one eye, and the other was….well…awful. I had headaches, and I couldn’t visualize perception at all. I almost failed my first year, but thankfully, I had good grades (up to that point) and they acted as a buffer to offset the post-surgery grades. After school ended, I went back and they completed the procedure on the affected eye. Now, I remained 20/20 up until 3 hrs ago, where my vision started to change. I now will occasionally wear glasses, but otherwise I am fine. I realize this is nowhere near the pain and suffering that you have experienced, but I just wanted to share my experience, in order to let people know that there can be adverse outcomes associated with this surgery.
@@Truthlover450oh god forbid you risk that 1% of having minor side effects.
luckily, I know an ER doctor that informed me of these complications that can lead to someone taking their own life. My vision is terrible, but I will gladly just wear glasses forever and not risk having the surgery. Thank you for sharing your story. I hope your condition continues to improve!
A few years ago I saw a news story about a TV newscaster who took her own life after complications after LASIK. After seeing that I could never risk it.
As long as you are a hygenic person, you can als use contacts from time to time!
Possibly the most important youtube video I have ever seen. I would add to what you say, based just on this, the simplest thing is not just to do the research, but to line up all the other treatments first, even visiting the specialists who treat the complications, before you visit the specialists who might give you those complications. I have suffered from medical mistakes before, but never from the damage caused by the actual treatment.
I am so sorry this happened to you, and really appreciate the information. Continue to feel better and put out more information about this.
I've been wearing glasses since I was seven years old. I am 33 now. I'd be wearing them to my grave and never risk having anything done to organs as sensitive as the eyes ... My husband, on the other hand ... needs to watch this for sure.
Thank you for sharing, people deserve to know the real risks. You are doing a great service by making this video.
I wish you the best in the future, I hope that additional recovery and healing will happen.
Thank you for the kind words
I’m so sorry this happened to you! I had a massive complication from Botox that was injected in my neck for chronic pain. It paralyzed my esophagus and I was on a feeding tube for 2 months. Ever since that happened, I only do medical procedure if absolutely necessary. I hope you continue to heal. Sending you a hug.
I can empathize, I suffer awful migraines and Botox was recommended. I researched and discovered the placebo group had significantly better results and side effects over the placebo group. Thanks but no thanks.
Excuse autocorrect, the last placebo group had higher results and no side effects compared to the Botox group.
What I've learned from the medical industry is to never accept anything from them unless it's in a life or death situation. There are many side effects and adverse effects that people get and they don't even think it's related to the treatment or surgery given by a doctor because the problems show up months or years later.
Did you develop Sjogrens through all this?
My girlfriend gets those shots in her neck for pain what did you do to resolve the pain? I’m worried about her
Hearing your story made me really glad my ophthalmologist had my best interests at heart. I originally wanted to get lasik, seeing as my eyesight is pretty bad, 800 in both eyes. After the tests were done, she said that while it looked like I should still be able to get lasik, she was concerned about my optic nerve test. She sent me to get a second opinion, from a glaucoma specialist, and he told me that “I’m stupid if I didn’t listen to him and got lasik.” And he wouldn’t tell me why.
Obviously shit patient care, but he was also one of the best in Asia, so I went to my ophthalmologist and told her how unprofessional he was. As she had my test results (yay national healthcare), she was able to explain to me exactly why I was not the best candidate. I would still be a candidate if just looking at the numbers, but she was able to explain to me the entire thought process behind why she was concerned.
Turns out, my eye pressure is already on the lower end of average at 13, and with lasik, that’ll drop your eye pressure test value by 2, dropping it to around 11. While I didn’t have glaucoma, she mentioned that my optic nerve could suddenly decide to manifest low tension glaucoma, and lasik would make it really hard to treat. Really appreciated her explaining everything to me in detail, she even printed off the test with her notes on it for me to take back home. She also told me it would be very unethical of her to operate on me with that knowledge.
Thank you for the video and thank the people who are leaving comments about their experiences. This is an eye opener for the rest of us. I was about to get this procedure in my early twenties but money was a concern so I didn't go forward. I will not in the future due to your advice.
Very powerful testimony! I am glad you put out this video to communicate these horrible issues you experience(d) to others. My hope for you is that your eyes continue to heal and also that you continue to remain strong! Best of luck to you!
Thank you, I appreciate it
Being a severe dry eye patient myself, I can feel your pain. It's horrible!
Ophthalmologists wearing glasses themselves says enough for me. I’m sorry you and so many others have to go through this pain. I hope it gets better.
Very well said! I'd like to say that I feel your pain but fortunately for me, I can't really feel the depth of it. I guess I can only say that I understand your pain. I so hope that your healing continues!
Thank you
I feel so bad for anyone who has has to go through this. As someone who suffers from phases of severe/acute dry eye, it's a discomfort/pain you can't understand unless you've gone through it. It can literally be torture and leaves you wanting to go to sleep at like 6pm every night because it feels impossible to use your eyes. I'm so mad at how doctors/clinics are able to get away with this and are not obligated to help patients after they are harmed.
Is there anything in particular you use to help it? My dad suffers terribly with it
“Waaah! my eyes are dry!” Literally use eye drops you goof lmao
@@Smashingblouse Eye drops, but also working with a doctor for a treatment plan. They will likely do an exam (could be a problem with tear ducts) anf or run labs. Many people have dry eyes as a side effect of something else.
@@livelovely4681 thank you 🙏🏻
@@davidvenom who hurt you david
Let me just tell you man your story touched me. As someone who has been going through an unexplained chronic illness the last few years and trying to get answers I feel your pain and distress with the medical field. I am so sorry this happened to you. You are clearly a very determined and smart individual and I hope your research and efforts pay off one day and you can become less dependent on the medications. You are so well spoken and did a great job explaining everything that doctors wont. I hope people that are about to get Lasiks or considering it see your video. You are definitely saving peoples lives. Stay strong friend.
PRK destroyed my vision and my life. I feel your pain man. Stay strong and keep spreading your message.
What are the complications you're suffering from PRK
Thank you for sharing your experience. I had laser eye surgery, going on several years ago. The healing period where you arent healing and they gaslight you is so tough. I spent a lot of time in darkness because any screen or light was uncomfortable. I was sad that i had paid to be blinded by a predatory business, who told me complications are extremely rare. I feel it is important for those of us who have undergone the surgery and experienced these significant issues afterwards to speak about them. I still have dry eyes. I have severe night blindness and cant drive at night. I am 32. I worry about how the night blindness might affect my life as i get older. I have to plan when i am driving in the winter, when it gets dark at 4pm. I hope in time, things improve for you, and for all of us.
Kudos for speaking out about this, it takes courage. I hope you continue to heal and get better
Thank you
Man, I was listening to your words and the tears just started. My heart goes out to you. I wear glasses, and everyone around me has been trying to convince me to do LASIK surgery. I’ve been having orthopedic issues for years which, due to misdiagnoses and other issues, limited me in so many ways. After seeing countless doctors and physical therapists I finally found a physical therapist that knows how to treat my problems, and my life has changed beyond belief. I was ready to carry my disability to the grave, but he treated 90% of it and I’m diligently working on the remaining 10%.
That’s why I was so reluctant to undergo LASIK surgery - I know what it’s like to have treatments not work, backfire, and in fact leave you worse than when you started them. I’ve been telling my wife and mom and friends who’ve been pressuring me to go through with it “nooooooooo way” - I’ll keep my glasses thank you very much.
I’m soooooo happy to hear you are mostly pain free. Yes, maintaining that is hard with all the drugs and other arrangements, but you are so lucky that you even have that. I know how difficult it is to put yourself out there and talk about it on UA-cam like you did - I don’t think I would ever have the courage or mental willpower to do that. Love you brother and god bless you.
Having had struggles with my eyes for many years, I completely relate. I also have very dry eyes, glaucoma and myopia, and I am lucky I never rushed into lasik years back. Hopefully, with testimonials like yours, others will catch-up and this practice and the laws governing it will change.
What an ordeal. I'm so sorry, brother. I am glad you have found some gratitude in your life, and have a hard time imagining just how frustrating this must have been. Thanks for sharing. I will refer people to your painful story.
Thank you
Really honest and well explained, so thank you so much for posting this video. I hope your message reaches as many people as possible as it is insanely unjust what happened to you and many others like you. God bless you and good luck in your continued recovery.
Thank you very much, I appreciate the kind words
Thank you for taking the time to make this video. ❤
Thanks for sharing. Real world experience is 100x more useful than the what doctors have to offer
Thanks for sharing the experience. I honestly feel like this was a godsent, because the clinic I've been to sounds exactly the one you mention, and I also used acutane when younger and have somewhat dry eyes even nowadays. Not only your video but also one from Taren Van Hemert showed up, and I totally changed my mind on Lasik. Thanks again and I hope you recover soon!
Thanks Thomas! Glad you saw it in time
Taran had PRK, but the point still stands. I wanna get laser eye surgery but I'll make even more thorough research before I actually do it.
I am so sorry that this has happened to you. Thank you for sharing your story and to inform everyone of the possibility of having this nightmare. I hope that one day soon you can be truly pain free.
Thank you ❤
Thank you sharing! I hope your journey to healing has continued to improve. A few years ago I did a consultation very similar to yours. I even scheduled my surgery. The night before I did further research and immediately cancelled. It's criminal how much they don't disclose. I have dry eyes too, though I didn't really realize it at the time, and shouldn't have been a candidate. I've stuck with glasses and contacts for special occasions. Wishing you the best ❤
Thank you! You made a great decision
Thank you for your experience. I had LASIK on Friday and I even had a complication. I'm lucky though my vision is now perfect.
Thank you for your video and for the information. I was considering Lasik, but now I feel very reluctant to go ahead with it. I wish you all the best with your recovery, you seem like a really nice guy.
Thank you
Thank you so much for sharing this. I actually got tears to my eyes. This is what's happening to me almost to a T! I finally feel like it's time to share my story. 💗💗
Thanks Claire! You should, more people need to know. Best of luck on your recover
thank you for this; my sister got it done, and i think she has dry eyes now. i wear big dorky glasses. i was always too scared of operations; and contacts bother me, so i just stick with my dorky glasses. im 40 now. thank you for being so honest and vulnerable and helping people!!!!
Hey man, sorry you had to deal with this. My girlfriend has actually been considering LASIK for a while. Just like you she also wants to do it because of dry eyes (contacts are very difficult to wear for her). I had been looking up a video about how it is done a few days ago and this popped in my recommendations today. We are definitely more wary now, thank you very much for sharing your insight. You might have just saved someone from what you had to suffer. I hope it gets better for you in the future.
thank you
I have dry eye as well and these contacts saved my eyes - Dailies Total 1. Your girlfriend should try them. I even feel better when I wear them (they're made specifically for dry eyes)
I think it is almost guaranteed to get dry eye after. At least every person I spoke to has had it to some degree even if it went away. Mine has improved but I still wake up and need a drop to start the day.
@@BreadAndGatoradesame. Dry eye for the last 17 years. Wake up with my eyelids stuck to my eyeballs. Splash water on them and it’s ok. But I’ll have to do this for life; and constant eye drops throughout the day. I would never have had PRK if I knew
@@Raec123 My dry eye has improved but I need a revision in my left eye, it has a bit of hazy vision still. I don't know what to do....
Gabe…feel so bad for your experience. Big hug ! Already shared with fds, get well and reminds me health is priceless.
Thank you for the kind words Tyrone and sharing the video, I appreciate it
I’m debating lasik & wanted to thank you for sharing your story. I’m so sorry this happened to you. ❤️🩹
Thank you ❤️
I am glaucoma suspect and my eyes will hurt at times from dryness and over use of screens, but I couldn’t imagine going through what you’ve had to deal with. Stay strong brother!
Thank you so much for sharing your story and helping inform others. We appreciate you and wish you all the healing.
Thank you for making this video. People need to be fully informed about the possible complications of LASIK surgery. That the Doctors don't want to tell you about. I had LASIKS 2 years ago. I still have constant eye pain. Burning, and aching eye balls. Shooting pains. And pain tenderness in and around my eye sockets. It really is miserable. And I should consider myself lucky because I know so many people are worse off than I am. So again thank you for helping to get the word out. ❤️
My pleasure. I hope we can both continue to heal and improve Sarah
I have that too in my left eye
@@Auro77 Sorry to hear that
@@RamsayRides yeah it's mostly with longer screen time. So if I have to do extra study or work besides my office work I really can't do it. And I remember doctor asking me during consultation (before surgery) what my work profile is and basis that he made the decision (assuming that my work wouldn't need longer screen time). He could have been direct.
@@Auro77 Yeah definitely, I'm on screens all day too but they didn't seem to care. I find f.lux + moisture glasses seem to help a bit
Thank you for sharing your story! I think it can save many people's lifes
Thanks Julia
Thank you so much for this video. We all appreciate your honesty and testimony and hope it gets better for you.
Here I am, hating my glasses because they hurt my nose and skin, looking up for laser opportunities and getting excited but then finding your video and stopping myself from my delusion. I'll keep using my lenses and glasses. Thank you and I hope you can find healing for your sufferings.
Thanks. If your glasses are hurting your nose look up byebyenosedents.com (or make your own)
I say look into it and go to a reputable optomologist and see if you're a candidate. I got my prk done by a tech that my doctor that knows all my history refered me to. There are also new procedures that are less invasive than lasik and prk. Look into smiles and evo icl, if you need eyedrops get preservative free drops. With prk I found out I sleep with my eyes open and recovery was slowed down by this, if I could go back I'd definitely choose smiles as the recovery time is very fast and doesn't require you to grow a new cornea. Once again its your eyes and no one will care more than you about them so do your research and talk to your doctor.
@@RamsayRidesthanks so much for recommending the nose dent thingies, my partner wears glasses and gets painful looking dents, these are going to help so much :D
Don’t let a single horror story dissuade you. When a surgery is done on millions of people. There are are always going to be isolated cases with bad outcomes.
Look at the statistics and research.
Like with my endoscopic lumbar disc surgery. Went in with back pain and numbing fingers, came out with back pain, leg pain and numb foot. Surgeon told me that those symptoms will go away quickly. It was 5 years ago. I hope that someday you will get better sir, stay strong.
Thanks, same to you
Does your dick still work or is it all numb and gross?
Fuck western medicine
Oh man, I'm really sorry! I have back and neck issues (my neck and lower back have barely any disc space left and the discs are dry) and am terrified of needing any neck or back surgery - because I know it's a really hit or miss kind of thing. I've had numb toes / balls of my feet and 2 of my fingers on each hand (very mild to medium, varies) for YEARS (like 15 or so) and hope I can just gut it out until I croak. I really hope you get better. ❤🩹
@@i_love_rescue_animals Thanks, I hope you get better too
Yikes! I wish you well and a full recovery.
Thanks!
Thanks for speaking out about this. I'm sorry to hear of your suffering. Your message will help others.
I'm so sorry that this happened to you. It's so sad how badly some people are affected by this
Indeed, thanks Shannon
Very informative! Thanks for sharing your story.
Thanks
The experiences you've been through as well as your continuing suffering is just terrible. Thank you for sharing this video so others can be aware, do their own research or ask questions, and get second and maybe third opinions before having LASIK. I have dry eyes following cataract surgery but I have no way of knowing whether I was destined to have dry eyes anyway because of my age. I only have a nuisance level of discomfort necessitating lubricating eye drops 4X per day which is nothing compared to what you are going through. I'm so glad now that I did not opt for LASIK many years ago. I was too scared to have it done at the time.
I'm so sorry you went through this - but thank you for sharing. This is a great cautionary tale against not only Lasik, but all elective surgeries. If you are not in chronic pain then very carefully consider whether you need an operation. The trust and faith you are asked to place in "professionals" who are chiefly financially motivated should always be an enormous question mark. It's not usually worth the risk of losing your quality of life.
I had that surgery 15 or more years ago, and it is one of the best decisions I ever made. Pain is not the only reason to correct things that are wrong. And do you know one single professional who does not get paid for their work? Yeah, I didn't think so.
Thanks for sharing this. I was seriously considering the procedure but after watching this. I have decided to continue with my glasses 🙏🏾
Good choice! :)
My optomoligist that I totally trust advised me against Lasik surgery since I have dry eyes. When i hear from others what problems they had afterwards I am glad I listened to my optomoligist.
You've been so strong ! !
Thank you for sharing awareness ♥️
Thanks Summer ❤️
Thank you for your courage in sharing your experiences.
Wow thank you for making this video I was going to get lasik next month! The comments make me see how common these problems are.
Thankyou bro for sharing your experience and warning others about the potential complications of lasik. It takes alot of courage to make such video when your own eyes have been messed up.I am a doctor too and I am totally against this procedure.Hope you get better soon brother.
Thank you! I really appreciate it
Thank you doctor! When i asked my doctor will i have problems after PRK surgery she say no no , do not worry but now she see I have problem and she does not expected this could hapend. Whatttt I knew better than her what is problem with my eyes!
THANK YOU for sharing this! I worked for an Ophthalmologist (corneal specialist) for years who did NOT support LASIK. Many, many issues with it and they are not fun. I'm sorry you've had to go through this.
What did the ophthalmologist you worked for said about PRK surgery because i'm tired of wearing glasses 24/7
@@eons8941 have u considered contacts?
Your story is really heartbreaking. I wish you a full recovery!
Thank you!
I was very fortunate as well. Had it done about 20 years ago and it worked even better than I expected. The doctor said it probably would not help with my reading vision but it did. The benefits only lasted about 10 years and now I wear glasses. I did not know of the potential complications back then. If I did, I would not of taken the chance. Thank the Lord it worked out.
I, also, have severe dry eye and work freelance and am on a computer most of the day, so this resonates with me on a personal level. I have been considering the idea of LASIK for quite awhile, but thanks to you, I will reconsider. Thank you for sharing your experience and I pray that you are healed completely. I hope that your pain and dry eye get cured and that you get even better than before.
I’m so sorry you had to go through this. Thank you for sharing your experience and bringing attention to the predatory nature of these clinics. I hope you can heal from this and get the help you need.
Wow, this just makes me feel lucky I haven't had any complications from my LASIK, even though my right eye isn't 100%. I wish you the best.
thanks!
I have been suffering since mid 2019 from post SMILE corneal neuralgia and severe dry eyes. At its worst point I could not open my eyes for 9weeks. Now almost 3 years on, I am still severely disabled, unable to work, drive, be outdoors or leave the house. I also have severe filamentary keratitis that are like bits of grit bonded to the cornea requiring me to remove these multiple time a times a day with a teaspoon. The bad vision, constant pain and chronic grit sensation makes life not worth living. Combined with the shame and self blame for being so stupid to have put myself so naively in harms way makes suicide a constant battle.
People are conditioned to trust the doctors, but this false belief costs lives every day. Commercially motivated doctors use this as an ultimate marketing tool by telling patients there is nothing to worry about when they know full well there's a significant chance they will be taking all your quality of life away.
This must have been a very hard video for you to make. Thank you so much for taking the courage. One day governments and regulators will ban this awful industry.
Wow that sounds absolutely awful, I really hope that you can continue to make gradual improvements. Have you been able to visit Dr. Hamrah?
Please don't beat yourself up too much about getting the procedure done, I did the same thing for far too long. The reality of it is that millions of other smart people also don't do the research, blindly trust doctors and get lasik done all the time thinking nothing of it. What we did was completely normal and if it wasn't for our outcomes we would never have thought twice about it. It's unfortunate but true that western society places doctors upon such a pedestal that they become revered almost as all-knowing gods and we seldom think to question them.
For my mental health I have found that reading certain books have really helped me cope with it, frame in a better light and change my perspective on my suffering. Obviously I listen to audiobooks rather than reading them to give my eyes a break. I'd really recommend "Man's Search For Meaning - Victor Frankl", "Can't Hurt Me - David Goggins" and "Think Like a Monk - Jay Shetty" they are all available on Audible.
Hi, i agree with many of the things you have stated in regards to constant feelings of regret, blaming self, because it was elective and we feel like we did it to ourselves. I had lasik done and it's def severely affected my quality of life and mental health. IMO, the surgery is inherently unsafe. The risk of complications are devastating. To me its frustrating that despite the fact that we are not eye doctors, we can come to this conclusion. However they continue to allow this surgery. People such as you and I and MANY others blindly trust the doctors thinking its safe. it is not.
Have you considered having a corneal transplant? That probably would not help your dry eye situation, but it would eliminate the filimanetary keratitis. For those that don't know.. SMILE is supposed to eliminate the need for a flap, and retains the layer of cornea without cutting the nerves. It reshapes the cornea without exposing the cornea. Great idea.. only problem is.. it doesn't WORK as you painfully found out. I have a suggestion for you. Talk to a SKILLED ophthamologist about having PRK or LASIK done to repair your botched SMILE procedure. I would say LASIK, however it sounds like your cornea is already screwed up, so it would be best to endure the pain of PRK and grow NEW tissue. I am curious.. who suggested that you have SMILE done instead of LASIK or PRK? I would say that MOST ophthamologists are incompetent when it comes to complications. You have to research them, which is not easy. Don't go to the guy who hasn't done the procedure on thousands of other people before you.
@@NicoTineman if SMILE doesnt create a flap but makes a tiny opening how come it has the same complications as lasik? sorry im uninformed
@@NicoTineman I'm sorry but this is terrible advice. The answer to corneal neuralgia and severe dry eyes caused by laser eye surgery is not more laser eye surgery. PRK will not regrow the tissue to its pre surgery state.
Thank you for sharing your story. This is SO important. Accutane isn’t the only drug which has subtle-seeming side effects which actually super affect other things when combined.
I want to give you a big hug and cry for all the crap. If I’ve learnt anything in life, it’s to never do any elective surgery for appearance sake. It’s on us to do the internal work to be okay with things and manage them naturally.
I wish I could give you eyes and a wonderful master’s degree :( take you camping in the past. Enjoy what you can while you’re here. Thank you so much for this heartbreaking story 💔
Thank you very much Esnutaliah. I definitely agree that it's very important to learn to live and be happy with your slight flaws rather than turning to elective surgery and medication. ❤️
Thanks for sharing your story. Best of luck to you!
I have MGD. Dry eye affects quality of life so much more than people can understand. I feel for you so much. I met an optometrist last year socially who keeps pitching me for her to do LASIK on me. I told her I have bad dry eye. Her reply, "It's fine!". Yikes. I'm glad you're doing better than you were and I hope you continue to improve.
I also took Acutane when I was younger for acne, it worked perfectly for me, and didn’t regret taking it. As I got older and my eyes started to go, I too looked into Lasik. I had chronic dry eyes, along with a severe stigmatism and far sightedness, so I didn’t hold out alot of hope that I was a candidate. The place I chose to do it had actual optometrists that did the final part of the consultation, told me the risks and made the final call based on my candidacy . Finally the day came and I got the procedure done, it took about 5 minutes to do it, and they constantly reached out to me during my recovery. I’m pretty sensitive to light now, but I don’t regret the surgery at all, it was life changing. I’m really sorry that it didn’t go well for you.
How long has it been since youve had the surgery?
Thank you for speaking out. I also suffer from corneal neuralgia. Mine was caused by grossly inadequate treatment for dry eye disease that went on for almost a year before I developed my pain symptoms. I would warn people to get very rapid and intensive treatment for dry eye disease early on ... don't let ophthalmologists and optometrists treat you one piece at a time ... going months with treatments that don't work and then trying yet another treatment 3 months later that doesn't work. I too see Dr. Hamrah and after 9 months can work and do most outdoor activities ... but like you I am handcuffed to AST. Keep hope alive and again thanks for sharing.
Thank you, yes early and aggressive treatment is imperative. I hope you continue to improve as well
What are some things you guys recommend to treat dry eye disease for a rapid and intensive treatment early on?
@@VulcanHoruseusDX hey did you ever figure out what helps?
Thanks for describing your experience I think this is valuable information to anyone, My condolences on your eye problems, wish you the best in healing and having a good life.
Thank you for sharing your story, friend. I'm sorry for what you've gone through (and continue to go through) and I believe you're saving many others from this same fate. God bless and infinite healing to you. ♥️🙏♥️
It’s not easy putting yourself out there but this video can help so many people not have to go thru this terrible ordeal …. Thanks to you !!
Thanks Rhonda ❤️
Thank you for sharing. This is super valuable information. I'm really grateful to you for using your energy to disseminate it. One of the only positive aspects of suffering is it can sometimes be used to prevent others from going through the same thing, and i'm really proud of you for doing the hard work to protect others. Thank you and all the best to you!
Thank you very much for the kind words
I don't know how you can remain so calm. So sorry it happened to you. Hope you continue to heal. I had successful mono-vision LASIK around 20 years ago. I don't believe they ever discussed dry eye complications; luckily i don't have it. You need to look into suing the eye surgery clinic. I think you have a very good case.
So sorry to hear about your experience. Thank you for sharing. This has really given me pause for thought.
I had Accutane as a teen also, and I do still get occasional dry eyes to this day. Several times over the last decade or two I've considered LASIK and went in for consultations, and they never considered my medical history or usage of Accutane, they always told me I was a good candidate... I'm thanking my lucky stars that my laziness and unwillingness to commit to it is probably the only reason I didn't get it done, and who knows what would have happened. I feel terrible for you, and thank you for sharing the story and helping others avoid this disastrous procedure.
Jeez, I'm so sorry you had this awful complications. I had LASIK done two years ago and I've never been happier with it. I'm so happy to be glasses free.
me too. 5 years
Me too.. 17.5 years
I'm glad I watched this. Thanks for saving me!
Thank you for sharing your story. So sorry this happened to you
What a youtube rabbit hole to go down at 2am. I hope things keep improving for you.
thanks
I have thought about Lazik but I have dry eye issues myself. You convinced me, I am sticking with my contacts. Thank you for your story. I am sorry this happened to you. It sounds terrible.
Thank you so much for sharing, and praying for your continuing recovery 🙏
HOLY SH...T
thanks for sharing your story, i`m sure you did a very good thing spreading your message and saved someone. I wish you get better, good luck man!
My eye doctor said to wait until better options come out. LASIK leaves people with dry eyes for life. So I trust her and value her opinion, she also wears glasses close to the same prescription as me. Mine are quite thick, -4.5 and -4.25. I pay to have them thinned. Glasses are not so bad, compared to what you are going through. My eye doctor said I’d likely still need glasses after lasik too, so, ya, no thanks.
Thank you for your ongoing experience, I’m so very sorry that you are going through this, I hope that you find relief and a solution soon. It must be hell for you everyday. You seem to have so much trouble just living your daily life at this point. Your story has absolutely made sure that I will never do LASIK surgery, thank you so much for making that clear to me. You don’t deserve this, lots of love,❤
Thanks Laurie ❤️
there has to be a wavelength of light that passes through the cornea to etch the lens. id imagine that will be a thing one day
SILK technique has been recently released. It doesn't cut a flap, and uses much lower energy laser.
@@DK-ox7ze There also a contact lens type of thing that can be placed behind the flap too.
Not necessarily. I had dry eye for about 3 months post-op and then my eyes went back to normal.
Thank you for sharing this. Your experience really resonated with me as a software engineer who underwent lasik (also because of contact intolerance) now suffering from the same complications you described. I hope your video helps encourage people not to have this surgery, which in my opinion is absolutely not worth the risks. It's hard to describe how much worse lasik complications are than having to wear glasses. You just can't get a new pair of eyes if something goes wrong.
Yup totally, I hope you can improve
why do you also not make a video of your experience and save others from the same harm.
YEP
Thank you for sharing your experience. I am so sorry you’ve had to endure all of this.
I’m so sorry to hear about your experience. I had lasik over twenty years ago and I guess I dodged a bullet as I’ve had no complications.
I hope you sue them for malpractice! Prayers for healing .
Thanks for sharing! I'm so sorry that you have to go through this. And I hope your eyes will keep getting better! I've consulted 3 clinics, two of which specialize in LASIK told me I have no problem doing LASIK. One of which specializes in PRK and ICL told me I shouldn't go for LASIK, and they were really pushing me for ICL saying it's reversible. After all of those consultations, I could totally feel the corporate greed. Then I did some research to understand the types of surgeries and what factors determine our candidacy. After that, I called two of them to ask for my cornea thickness, pupil size, TBUT, corneal curvature etc, one clinic was very offended and didn't wanna tell me. But luckily, one of them was nice enough to tell me. Based on my research, I would probably be an OKAY candidate, but not a PERFECT one, so finally I decided to keep my glasses and contact lenses. For everyone that is considering vision correction surgeries, I STRONGLY advise you to consult more than one clinics, and do your research thoroughly! Even if there's only 1% of chance to have severe complications, if it happens to you, it will 100% affect your life!
Very smart of you Maggie, I wish I was less naive and had of done the same. Thank you for your well wishes