Lasik Screening

[Justpeachythx]

Last night I had a conversation with a family member about my dry eye, and my plans to go to an opthamologist today to see about plugs. She made the comment that "oh, I have those -- it's no biggie" which made me immediately think maybe she'd been suffering like me but not told anyone. She said "no, no -- when I had my screening done for Lasik they did "some test" and suggested that I should have plugs put in as part of the Lasik surgery ... since it looked like I had a bit of dry eye".

Under-stating the potential repercussions of having this surgery, for sure ... but I wonder if offering plugs as part of the procedure is becoming common practice? She had the Lasik done over 3 years ago.

[dianat]

It is not unusual to hear of docs putting in plugs as part of a standard refractive surgery procedure. I've also heard of pre-surgery treatment with drops and Restasis to improve tear film prior to surgery.

Naturally I find this to be bogus and infuriating...as if a patient's tendency to be dry will just not surface due to such prophylactic treatment. I cannot comprehend this way of thinking and frankly would describe it as immoral.

[Lucy]

I agree with Diana, who said it so well. Plugs before lasik is a recent thing. Docs have done anything they could do to boost the chance that lasik would "work" on a person. A bandaid here, a bandaid there and voila'.

Nine years ago, I wasn't tested for dry eyes prior to lasik and, indeed, at that time denied lasik caused dry eye. We've come a long way, baby. Lucy

[lboogie]

Is your family member having any bad side-effects from her lasik? I was not offered any plugs beforehand -- supposedly I did not show any signs of dry eye. In fact it took a while before they suggested plugs afterwards too. Which seemed odd to me.

[Justpeachythx]

No, my family member did fine with the lasik. She mentioned today that one of the plugs fell out eventually and once in awhile that eye feels a little dry in the morning but nothing that a drop or two doesn't fix. She told me that when they did the tear test and suggests the plugs, she assumed it was just a ploy to get more money ... and was so irritated by the test, she snapped back that if was just the extra $100 they wanted, they should have just added it to the bill and saved her the discomfort of the test. Obviously, they didn't explain the long term risk. I find it extremely annoying as well that these people are so cavalier about all this. They obviously know there is a risk (else why introduce the plugs at all?).

[Jen72]

I can relate I was told if I had dry eye after my Lasek that plugs would "fix" it. Not. Being a novice and not knowing that I had dry eye prior I went along. In hindsight I think that I should have been disqualified. Apparently the Dr. said that I had mild dry eye before. they should have delved deeper and factored in my age >35, female, fair skinned, very allergic, senistive dry skin, in my opinion. Then let me make the choice ie "just so you know-you may have this problem". Shouda, coulda , woulda....just feeling angry today to match my angry, raw eyes.