FDA's Lasik Page :: Although there is plenty of good information on the site, it falls way short of adequately warning prospective patients. Some sections almost read like an advertisement for LASIK. The "Other Resources" page contains links to LASIK surgeon organization sites, which are heavily biased. Even so, we believe that prospective patients should read it before deciding to have the surgery. From the site, "Dry eye not only causes discomfort, but can reduce visual quality due to intermittent blurring and other visual symptoms. This condition may be permanent. Intensive drop therapy and use of plugs or other procedures may be required... [Large pupils] can cause symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts, and ghost images (double vision) after surgery. In some patients these symptoms may be debilitating. For example, a patient may no longer be able to drive a car at night..."

 

LASIKNewsWire.com :: LASIK news and information. Press releases, medical studies, special reports. Hard-hitting reporting on the LASIK industry and the medical coverups surrounding the practice of LASIK. Learn about the FDA's role in hiding the truth about LASIK risks from the public.

 

 

 

 

LasikSurgeryWatch.org :: LASIK Surgery Watch (LSW) is a non-profit LASIK patient advocacy organization. LSW was launched in 2008 by a group of LASIK patients and family members of LASIK patients to address an urgent need for improvements in quality of patient care in the practice of LASIK. In contrast to the LASIK industry's focus on patients who are "satisfied", the LSW slogan states "Every Patient Counts". The organization welcomes and encourages all LASIK patients with poor results to register on its website.

 

 

 

LASIK Patient Advocacy Network on Facebook :: The purpose of the cause is to raise awareness of problems and risks of LASIK surgery, and to serve as an advocate on behalf of LASIK patients. Positions: To Advocate for LASIK patients with the FDA, governmental agencies, and eye care organizations. To disseminate accurate, unbiased, scientifically-based information to LASIK patients, prospective LASIK patients, and the general public. To create a community of patients damaged by LASIK surgery, so that they can be counted, heard, and understood. To provide a forum for patients damaged by LASIK surgery to form support groups and share resources. Join the cause!

 

 

MyLasikStory.com :: From the website: "My name is John Hoge and this page is the chronicle of my personal experience under the care of Dr. Eric Donnenfeld... On my first day after the surgery, my vision started to improve beyond what it had been without contact lenses, but I began to notice some problems. Spotlights at night produce horrible glare. Reading became difficult, and my reading speed was drastically reduced. Sometimes objects seem to project a fuzzy haze against their backdrop. I had never experienced anything like this. Vision was very simple before lasik - fuzzy without contacts and crystal clear with contacts. Now I had a whole new world of problems..."

 

 

EyeFreedom.com :: Dr. Edward Boshnick maintains a cutting edge optometric practice devoted to the restoration of vision and comfort lost as a result of refractive eye surgery (LASIK, PRK, RK, etc.), keratoconus, pellucid marginal degeneration, extreme dry eye, corneal dystrophies, corneal trauma and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome.

 

 

 

 

Before You Have LASIK Eye Surgery :: Joe Tye's special report on LASIK. "Questions you should ask before you have Lasik eye surgery: I've had so many requests for my special report on questions someone should ask before getting Lasik surgery that I've gone ahead and posted it on my blog... And while I heard from readers for whom Lasik was a very positive experience, I also heard a number of horror stories. My goal is not to talk anyone out of the procedure but rather to make sure they go into it with eyes open to the downside risks, and that they make sure that they are being an effective advocate for their own eyes. Please feel free to share this with anyone you know who might be contemplating this surgery."

 

 

LASIK-Flap.com/forum :: Active patient bulletin board and informative research forums. The site does not endorse refractive surgery because there is abundant evidence in current medical literature that corneal refractive surgery compromises the ocular health and visual quality of the eye. The site states that refractive surgery is a violation of the physicians’ Hippocratic oath to “first, do no harm”. Bulletin board post by a thankful reader: "I am just dumbfounded that these aggressive marketing tactics would be used for a medical procedure... I have decided to continue wearing my glasses... I'm glad that I found this site!"

 

 

LasikFDA.com:: Exposes deceit, corruption, and collusion by the FDA and the LASIK industry. From the site: "You've read the hype about the 10-minute miracle. Now get the truth." Reports the events of the April 25, 2008 hearing of the Ophthalmic Device Panel with videos and transcripts of testimony. Shows parallels between Big Pharma and Big Tobacco and "Big LASIK".

 

 

 

Keith Wills LASIK Story :: I would like to know why we were not protected against this doctor and why the FDA failed us in this matter. We tried to obtain copies of the official documents to use in our medical malpractice lawsuit, but the FDA, stated they were confidential and they would not be released. Those documents could have been presented to the jury showing that this was not an approved laser, and that the doctor had even misled the government by providing inaccurate reports, documents and representations.

 

 

TheLasikReport.com :: A comprehensive review of the medical literature of LASIK. Examines medical studies which reveal the risks and long-term consequences of LASIK. Cites 43 peer-reviewed journal articles. The report concludes that LASIK in an inherently harmful procedure and should be abandoned.

 

 

 

 

VisionSimulations.com :: Created by author and psychologist Roger D. Davis, PhD, this site features photorealistic images of the visual aberrations incuded by LASIK and other refractive surgeries, including starbursting, halos, glare, ghosting, blurry vision, and night driving scenes. Also contain numerous animations, as well as simulators that allow patients to approximate and communicate their vision to friends, family, and physicians. If you want help simulating your vision for others, start here.

 

 

 

LASIKDisaster.com :: Highest search engine-ranked LASIK patient site on the internet. Exposes the LASIK industry for covering up complications and deceptive advertising. Legal resources for victims of LASIK medical malpractice. Medical research of LASIK complications and risks. News articles about LASIK complications. Images of damaged eyes.

 

 

 

 

LasikMemorial.com :: Dedicated to those whose lives have been damaged or destroyed by refractive surgery, this site contains true stories written by the victims themselves. When complications occur, your life splits in two. There is the person you were before LASIK, and the person you are now...the person whose dry eyes hurt all the time, the person who sees multiple images of everything, who can't drive at night, who can't fulfill his or her responsibilities as a parent, or his or her potential as a human being, the person who suffers from PTSD, depression, and various states of dread about the future. You realize that maybe human nature isn't fundamentally good, or at least that doctors aren't what you thought they were.

 

DoctorMyEye.com :: Created by activist Optometrist Ken Minarik, OD, this site states: "The internet is full of websites that are owned by laser companies, clinics and LASIK providers that will tell you all about the good cases and sell you on the “joys” of LASIK. We will leave the pro-arguments to the salesmen. We are here to talk about things that go wrong and the people who can help you when it happens. Bookmark this site, and if you or a loved one are considering LASIK…please read all of our cautions first. If you or a loved one are suffering from LASIK complications…welcome to your online support group. We are here for you."

 

 

LifeAfterLASIK.com :: Created by activist, Dean Kantis. Warns about bad doctors that harm patients. Cautions prospective patients about LASIK marketing scams that sell fake certifications and entice patients into having surgery by downplaying complications. Publishes stories of patients with bad outcomes. Links to YouTube videos about LASIK horror stories.

 

 

 

 

UpdegraffLasik.com :: Created by LASIK patient who experienced a life-altering bad outcome, and now doesn't feel LASIK should be advertised without disclosing contraindications, risks, and warnings. The patient built this website in protest to the heavy advertising of Stephen Updegraff, MD. The site warns about the potential complications of LASIK and the unique problems of all-laser, bladefree, IntraLase femtosecond laser LASIK.

 

 

 

 

LasikFraud.com :: Created by patient activist Brent Hanson, this site states, "Are you planning to have laser eye surgery at TLC? Are you impressed with TLC's success stories? Do you believe that TLC will honor their "Lifetime Commitment" to you?... If you answered yes to any of these four questions, then please read about my experiences with eye surgery at TLC. Your decision to have eye surgery may result in permanently damaging results that are devastating to you. You may also discover that TLC will not back up their "Lifetime Commitment Program" if they damage your vision. I am going to share my personal story with you so that you can get a more realistic view of what your experience could be like. This story is unpleasant for me to tell, but you deserve to know that TLC personnel are fully capable of damaging your vision, deceiving you, abandoning you as a patient, harassing you, and threatening you with lawsuits for speaking out."

 

FlawedLasik.com :: Created by patient activist Dominic Morgan, this site chronicles Dominic's legal struggle with his surgeon and with the FDA. The site states, "Most Lasik websites are advertisements for having Lasik eye surgery. This website is to educate you to the dangers of having Lasik when you are not a proper candidate. Before you consider Lasik, you must be sure it can be done safely, and that you are a proper candidate. I went to a doctor who advertised that anyone who was nearsighted, farsighted, or had astigmatism could be done safely...that's almost everybody! I trusted these doctors, and now I'm legally blind. My name is Dom Morgan, and I tell my story because it may be useful to anyone considering Lasik."

 

 

Wake Up To LASIK:: Brief site written by an optometrist who was recruited to "comanage" Lasik. From the site: "I was WINED and DINED. Beneath the glow of dimmed chandeliers in an elegant restaurant, the compliments were blushingly effusive. I was made to feel so very special. It was seductive. The pitch came at the end of this dinner: "Dr. X, for every patient you send to our laser center, we'll collect the $5000 and we'll make sure you get back $2000." "That's an extravagant amount," I said. "Isn't that a kickback?" "No, we call it a co-management fee," was the quick reply. "You and I will manage the patient together. A "kickback" lands us both in jail. Hehehe."

 

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Other Links We Like

Mike's LASIK Hell

Letter asking the FDA to issue a LASIK public health advisory: LasikAdvisory.com

LASIK suicide connected to Robert Selkin, MD