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Hi everyone,
First, I'm writing this post mainly for those who might read it do not realize that Lasik (or other refractive surgery) can cause lasting and irreversible damages. I don't want sympathy or "atta girls" as I'm way past that. :-)... Ten years is a long time to have dry eye, bad vision and painful eyes. This does not mean that anyone reading this will go for 10 years. A slim chance to none. I had Lasik which started the dry eye, and kept it going, about 7 years later it was evident to me that something else was wrong. Finally, I was diagnosed with Sjogrens.
Today is the tenth anniversary of the dreaded Lasik day. I wish I had turned and walked out the door of the clinic that morning. I noticed they had a lot of "no shows." People who couldn't get the $4400 together, get a sitter, etc. Lucky fellows! I was a high myope, just under minus 10 diopters.
Two months after Lasik, my eyes became very sore and dry and stayed that way. My vision was not good. My left eye was full of ghosts, double vision, corneal ulcers etc. I went all over looking for help. I worked as a secretary and had to put drops into my eyes every 20-30 minutes or so for years. Finally I started getting notices at work that I had too many mistakes.
I had cataracts one year after Lasik. This is another question..why so quick after Lasik? Did it cause them or cause them to come out faster? My doc and I talked and I had one cataract fixed at 5 years post-op Lasik. Because of the Lasik, they could not calculate the right IOL strength and i ended up -4.5. Talk about carnival vision. I was seeing different images with each eye and my brain wouldn't compensate for this quick change, which is called anisometria.
I worked one week and stopped. I collected short term disability, then went on to try to collect Social Security disability. I filed and got it on first try. I'd had enough information and drs services that they must have thought it was evident. Disability is usually not entirely a specific thing, but a compilation of smaller problems. Mine was dry eye for sure. That was provable. I got something in the mail the other day from social security saying "since you are legally blind or visually impaired" blah, blah, blah. I'm not legally blind, so I guess I'm visually impaired. No kidding. I am barely legal to drive. One eye is at the last eligible line, like 20/50 with correction.
My vision is no better 10 years out. In fact, I have another cataract to have taken care of, but I'm afraid of how it will turn out.
Did Lasik ruin my life? As I knew it, yes. I had to stop working and "retire", but not on my schedule or my terms. I can't say how this affects you. Something you paid big bucks for turns out to ruin your employment. I have a wonderful and understanding family unit, so my life wasn't really ruined. If I had not had the understanding and help I've had, it would have been much worse. It could happen to you. Even if I'd got Sjogrens and did not have Lasik, I'd have dry eyes, but they would not be all butchered and ghosted.
Lucy
First, I'm writing this post mainly for those who might read it do not realize that Lasik (or other refractive surgery) can cause lasting and irreversible damages. I don't want sympathy or "atta girls" as I'm way past that. :-)... Ten years is a long time to have dry eye, bad vision and painful eyes. This does not mean that anyone reading this will go for 10 years. A slim chance to none. I had Lasik which started the dry eye, and kept it going, about 7 years later it was evident to me that something else was wrong. Finally, I was diagnosed with Sjogrens.
Today is the tenth anniversary of the dreaded Lasik day. I wish I had turned and walked out the door of the clinic that morning. I noticed they had a lot of "no shows." People who couldn't get the $4400 together, get a sitter, etc. Lucky fellows! I was a high myope, just under minus 10 diopters.
Two months after Lasik, my eyes became very sore and dry and stayed that way. My vision was not good. My left eye was full of ghosts, double vision, corneal ulcers etc. I went all over looking for help. I worked as a secretary and had to put drops into my eyes every 20-30 minutes or so for years. Finally I started getting notices at work that I had too many mistakes.
I had cataracts one year after Lasik. This is another question..why so quick after Lasik? Did it cause them or cause them to come out faster? My doc and I talked and I had one cataract fixed at 5 years post-op Lasik. Because of the Lasik, they could not calculate the right IOL strength and i ended up -4.5. Talk about carnival vision. I was seeing different images with each eye and my brain wouldn't compensate for this quick change, which is called anisometria.
I worked one week and stopped. I collected short term disability, then went on to try to collect Social Security disability. I filed and got it on first try. I'd had enough information and drs services that they must have thought it was evident. Disability is usually not entirely a specific thing, but a compilation of smaller problems. Mine was dry eye for sure. That was provable. I got something in the mail the other day from social security saying "since you are legally blind or visually impaired" blah, blah, blah. I'm not legally blind, so I guess I'm visually impaired. No kidding. I am barely legal to drive. One eye is at the last eligible line, like 20/50 with correction.
My vision is no better 10 years out. In fact, I have another cataract to have taken care of, but I'm afraid of how it will turn out.
Did Lasik ruin my life? As I knew it, yes. I had to stop working and "retire", but not on my schedule or my terms. I can't say how this affects you. Something you paid big bucks for turns out to ruin your employment. I have a wonderful and understanding family unit, so my life wasn't really ruined. If I had not had the understanding and help I've had, it would have been much worse. It could happen to you. Even if I'd got Sjogrens and did not have Lasik, I'd have dry eyes, but they would not be all butchered and ghosted.
Lucy
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