Oprah show..

[dianat]

I certainly think if Oprah were to do a show on LASIK, it would encompass dry eye and all other complications. I couldn't imagine the show would agree to identifying just one complication. Geez, I think this show could be a two-parter. It could take a while.

The truth is, when I wrote my rather lengthy story that I've posted here in DEZ under "Share your dry eye story", I wrote it for a fellow casualty of LASIK who had planned to use it to send to magazines, Oprah and other such media. It's likely too long to send to the producers at Oprah, but could be broken down a bit. It was so painful to write; I only did it to provide material for those thinking of having LASIK, and not just to share with all of you.

It never really occurred to me that with her (or anybody's) mass attention to the problem we may actually find a treatment more rapidly. I would be content knowing that I helped divert people from agreeing to LASIK. If one single person had discussed with me the reality of the complications, I am certain I wouldn't have done it. My LASIk doctor's marketing techniques brought me "off the fence".

One other aspect of our collective "story" that may interest the Oprah, is what an AMAZING and caring group of people we have in this sight. There's a lot to be said for the support we get from each other every single day. And whether the Oprah people ever have time for this, we should feel lucky to have such a site and that we have found such a community. I vote Rebecca onto the show, and even if I didn't go on stage I'd be in the audience!

[Lucy]

Great thoughts Di

And whether the Oprah people ever have time for this, we should feel lucky to have such a site and that we have found such a community. I vote Rebecca onto the show, and even if I didn't go on stage I'd be in the audience!

Diana, I absolutely agree with everything you've said. Rebecca would be an excellent representative, knowledgable and articulate. If not for Cindy and Rebecca, there would be no DEZ.

PS. Diana, you'd have to promise to wear your blue-mirror sunglasses on the show. I've lost my Buddy Holly glasses and am in deep mourning.

[homes]

i agree with the other posters that say LASIK should be the focus. not necessarily because my problems are a direct result from the surgery, but because lasik is an increasingly popular procedure. people know what lasik is, it's hugely advertised in the media.. as opposed to dry eye the condition that people will have a hard time to both comprehend and acknowledge. to argue that lasik surgery is risky will create ALOT of controversy and coverage.

there's also the kathy griffin connection.. and im not saying celebrities are more important than us regular people, but often they are seen as more credible individuals and people LISTEN to them (as sad as that may sound).

dry eye could be one of the many ailments that could be discussed in the show for example.. im sorry if i got a little carried away in my Oprah show fantasy lol.

[Rebecca Petris]

lasik is an increasingly popular procedure.

As was inevitable, it's also starting to be covered by insurers.

See http://www.detnews.com/2005/business...C01-247135.htm.

[homes]

As was inevitable, it's also starting to be covered by insurers.

See http://www.detnews.com/2005/business...C01-247135.htm.

that makes me sad..

now i wonder if the complications expenses are covered? (which often quadrupel the costs of the initial surgery) my guess would be a no.

[Amy09]

Sorry guys, but I have to disagree with y'all again. I'm probably making a few of y'all upset saying this, but i really think it should be more than lasik and also have to do with general dry eye syndrome also. I think the general public, and opthalmologists, too, need to know about the symptoms and risks of dry eye. Please, just hear me out.

When I was 14 and began having dry eye symptoms, my eye doctor thought it was just eye allergies and put me on Patenol, which just made my eyes worse. He also suggested I get allergy shots. To make a long story short, it took three years and about 3 or 4 eye doctors before they even realized that dry eye was the problem.

In the mean time, having untreated dry eye did permanent damage to my eyes. The eye doctors said there was no need to go w/out contacts when I began having problems, because they thought it was just seasonal allergies, so I continued wearing contacts for a couple years after my symptoms began. This eventually just increased the severity of my dry eye. If I had known what was really wrong I would have NEVER gone those couple of years with contacts. Doing this caused me to not only aggrevate my dry eye, but damaged my eye sight, and caused me to develop SLK on top of that.

After going a year with just glasses, I was allowed to wear contacts again for prom this May, and my perscription had increased all the way up to -7.5 and -8, which is very, very bad for an eighteen year old. Before my dry eye problems began, my perscription was only around the area of -3. If I had gotten the correct treatment and had been diagnosed correctly four years ago, my current eye specialist believes that my eye sight and eyes might be in a lot better shape today.

Anyways, that just why I feel strongly about people knowing about the risks of dry eye even if they haven't had lasik. It would be a shame if others, including more teens, had similar experiences along the lines of getting misdiagnosed and going untreated. Untreated dry eye can not only increase its severity, but lead to more eye diseases, and even blindness. Sorry I'm disagreeing with y'all, but that's just why I feel so strongly about it.

[homes]

^ i know you feel strongly about your condition, as do many with chronic ailments and i wish you the best and speedy relief.

however, a show on dry eye alone will most likely never happen. oprah producers need a strong angle, and LASIK victims will cause a stir. dry eye is only a small fraction of the horrors that LASIK sufferers have to go through.. and we have a prominent spokes person that could represent us.

as exploitive as it may sound, the media needs "juicy" stories (im a communication graduate) that create controversy.. dry eye is "boring", as opposed to LASIK complications that millions are dealing with, caused by a multi-billion industry which promotes false advertising, and millions more will have to deal with this year alone; media people will think "bam we have a story!"... catch my drift?

[Rebecca Petris]

It can be argued either way. Dry eye affects far more people than LASIK dry eye does, and the combination of numbers and individual stories can be very compelling.

[homes]

to be honest with you, ill be happy either way.

im just not sure whether an entire show on dry eye will work.

[Lucy]

After going a year with just glasses, I was allowed to wear contacts again for prom this May, and my perscription had increased all the way up to -7.5 and -8, which is very, very bad for an eighteen year old

Amy, I am not a doctor. But I am (was) a high myope. I am also much older than 18. But, I WAS 18 at one time. I won't pretend to be all knowledgable here on this and maybe someone with scientific stuff can post on it.

But, high myopes usually start out around 6-8 years old needing glasses. At first the glasses are not too myopic. However, as one continues to grow, the eye also continues to grow and becomes more myopic during this time. I started wearing glasses at 7 and each year I went progressively to a higher correction. By the time I was 18, I was myopic to about -9. My eyes (thankfully) stopped changing about that time. As far as I know, mine was not a problem with dry eyes. But, (back then) there was probably no such thing as dry eyes. I never wore contacts in my life.

My daughter followed the very same path I did. At about 18, her eyes ended up -9 and -9.50. There was a difference that she wore soft contacts from about the time she was eleven. It didn't make a difference in the end, but she was never concerned about wearing "coke-bottle glasses." I'm not sure where your dry comes in, but I believe a person destined to be high myope will end up that way--dry eyes or not. I am sorry you are having so much dry eye trouble. It's got to be a real downer on someone so young. If you are 18, I'd doubt your myopia will go much higher.

Lucy

[Amy09]

thanks lucy. you don't have to worry about not being scientific enough and I'm sure you know what you're talking about since severe myopia runs in your family. thats great to know that there's a good chance my perscription will stop increasing.

[Lucy]

Hi Amy........About high myopia running in my family..........

Not really true. I am the only one out of 4 siblings who wore glasses! Of course, now that they are older, they need reading glasses, but that's all. Neither of my parents needed anything but reading glasses. Don't know how/why I got unlucky! I guess, though, I seem to have started a trend in the family.

I do hope your myopia has stopped.

[Lucy]

Oh, Oh, Oh

I just read through this entire thread. I'm disappointed that UnitedHealthCare is going to contribute to the cost of this procedure.

As a former employee and current stockholder of UHC, I shall voice my disappointment to UHC. Perhaps I need to sell my stock before it plummets.

[shells]

Hey guys,

I just came across this old thread. Has anyone heard anything about this? I think it would be a GREAT idea to have a show on lasik casualities. People NEED to know the risks involved here. Instead they are just bombarded with how great and safe the procedure is. The way the lasik industry advertises makes me completely sick. I don't think I ever noticed how bad it was till after my surgery though. Flyers in the mail, commercials, radio ads...I can't even send an email without a lasik ad popping up on my hotmail account. The other day I saw a lasik ad in a menu at a restaurant! Needless to say, I lost my appetite. Even my lasik place still sends me brochures and coupons to give my friends, telling me to share my joy with how lasik improved my life. I've shared with them alright, but it isn't joy.

Oh, to touch on something else brought up in this thread....the reason I finally decided to call and make my lasik appointment was because my insurance company covered 15%. I called my insurance company, they put me in touch with the lasik place that day...3 weeks later it was done. In their defense though, they have covered my plugs and my Restasis.

Shells

[Calibug]

Dry Eye and Oprah Show

I think it is a great idea and could prevent a lot of people from making mistakes with lasik. Because of my eye problems my husband gave up on the idea of lasik. He was pretty much set on doing it until I ran into my blepharitis/MGD problems. He saw how much someone can suffer from this. He was told once that he didn't produce a lot of tears and he has a harder time wearing contacts for more than five or six hours anyway. Knowing what we know now, I can't imagine what the quality of his life could have been if he went ahead and did the lasik. I know so many run into a lot more serious problems after lasik than what I have (I've never had lasik done). I really feel for those that are in constant pain day and night. I assume there is a lot of underlying problems that may not get diagnosed before lasik.

It would be great to present this to Oprah adding that most dry eye sufferers are women. I can't remember the statistics but they were pretty high for menopausel women. What is it like one in five or something. I can't remember. If we are already at risk because of hormone changes, etc... a warning really does need to be out there for women considering lasik. Maybe if Oprah's people see that it is a women's issue/interest story (since most viewers are probably women), they may consider it.

I'll email her as well. Maybe if they are bombarded enough, they may actually consider it. That would great! I know a lot of people think we can just put a couple of eye drops in and we are good to go. I'm sure a lot of women think, oh well, I'll just use eye drops after lasik if they are dry. They have no idea what dry eyes are. This so needs to be exposed!!

Calibug