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Lasik Surgeons Probably Won't Take The Time To Warn You About...

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Lasik Lawsuit Info:

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--Be Very Careful Of "So Called" Lasik Certifications: CRSQA:

-MalpracticeWeb

 -Nick Caro has NO Insurance Since 2000, Do you know why...
 -Nick Caro, defendant in 50+ medical malpractice cases...
-Lawyers & Settlements wants to hear your about  Lasik Gone Bad-

 -Do you believe YOUR DOCTOR botched your Lasik?  Contact News Reporter:  dvsavini@cbs.com-
 

Other Lasik News Coming:

An alarming 20-35% of eyeballs that have these procedures have many of the following systems:

-Blindness & Corneal Transplants.
-Halos & Starbursts.
-Ghosting & Double Vision.
-Poor Night Vision.
-Severe Dry Eye Syndrome.
-Droopy Eye Lid.
-Depression & Suicide.
-Hazing & Blurry Vision.
-Ectasia (Bubbling of the cornea).
-Any many more vision disorders.

And if your lasik surgeon has no insurance, what does that say about this person and their practice?  Do you really want to open this can of worms?  It may be in your best interest to be patient and wait a few more years before you decide to do something that could compromise your health and leave you "helpless."

Lasik Definitions:

A

      Ablate
In surgery, to remove.
      Ablation
The vaporization of tissue with the excimer laser.
      Ablation zone
The area of tissue that is removed during laser surgery.
      ALK
See Automated lamellar keratoplasty.
      Aniseikonia
A difference in imaging size between the two eyes.
      Anisometropia
A difference in refractive power of the two eyes in which the variance is at least one diopter.
      Anterior chamber
The fluid-filled area between the cornea and the lens.
      Aqueous humor
The fluid in the anterior chamber.
      Astigmatism
A refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea (much like a football). Astigmatism is measured in terms of diopters, cylinder meridian or axis. Uncorrected astigmatism may produce ghosting or double images.
      Automated lamellar keratoplasty (ALK)
A procedure in which the surgeon first creates a flap in the uppermost layer of the cornea using a device called a microkeratome. Then the surgeon makes an optical cut after removing additional tissue with a second pass of the microkeratome.
      Axis
In ophthalmology, a line that is the symmetrical center of a curved optical surface. Measure of astigmatism.

B

      BCVA
See best corrected visual acuity.
      Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA)
The best possible vision a person can achieve with corrective lenses measured in terms of Snellen lines on an eye chart.
      Bowman's membrane
The non-regenerative layer of tissue between the epithelium and the stroma (5-10 microns thick – .005 to .01 millimeters).
      Broad beam laser
A medical instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that is focused at close range to remove corneal tissue. A broad beam laser uses a relatively large beam diameter (from 6.0 to 8.0 millimeters) which can be manipulated to ablate the cornea.

C

      Center islands
A manageable complication of LASIK related to ablation. The incidence of center islands has been greatly reduced as more ophthalmic research has been devoted to its contributing factors.
      Cornea
The outer part of the eye that provides 70% of the eye's refractive power. The cornea is approximately 500 microns thick (.5 millimeter) and consists of 5 layers epithelium, Bowman's membrane, stroma, Descemet's membrane and endothelium.
      Cylinder meridian
In ophthalmology, a line that is the symmetrical center of a curved optical surface. Measure of astigmatism.

D

      Decentration
A complication caused by movement of the pupil that can be corrected with an enhancement procedure.
      Descemet's membrane
The layer of the cornea between the stroma and endothelium. Five microns thick (.005 millimeters), this membrane provides an adhesion layer for the endothelium.
      Deturgescence
The balance of hydration in the eye.
      Diopters
A measurement of refractive error. Hyperopia is measured in terms of positive diopters. Myopia is measured in terms of negative diopters. The most common refractive errors ranged between +6 to -6 diopters.
      Dry eye
A Syndrome characterized by corneal dryness due to deficient tear production.

E

      Ectasia
A progressive corneal thinning and bulging.
      Emmetropes
People who have no refractive error.
      Emmetropia
The ophthalmic term for a perfect refractive state – no nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
      Endothelium
The innermost layer of the cornea. The endothelium is one cell layer thick (5-10 microns or .005-.01 millimeters) and provides hydration balance to maintain the cornea's transparency. The endothelium serves three main purposes it regulates the stroma's water content, provides a barrier to ingress of several constituents of the aqueous humor, and actively transports glucose.
      Enhancement
A secondary refractive procedure performed after the initial one in an attempt to achieve better visual acuity.
      Epithelial ingrowth
A complication of LASIK wherein epithelial cells grow underneath the corneal flap.
      Epithelium
The outermost layer of cells of the cornea. Six cells thick (20 microns), the epithelium is the eye's first defense against infection.
      Excimer laser
A "cold" laser used in refractive surgery to remove corneal tissue.
 

F

      Farsightedness
See "Hyperopia"

G

      Glare
A complication of refractive surgery in which the patient sees additional luster around lights. Glare is a subjective experience that often decreases with time.
      Ghosting
A distortion of image due to irregular healing of the corneal surface.
      Globe
The eyeball.

H

      Halos
A complication of refractive surgery in which the patient sees additional rings around lights at night. Halos are subjective experiences that often decrease with time.
      Haze
A relatively rare complication of LASIK caused by the deposition of ground substance in the cornea. An ophthalmologist can measure the haze response of a patient's eye under a slit lamp, but patients' experiences of haze vary. Outcomes for the patient include decreased night vision, halos or loss of best corrected visual acuity. Caused by the eye's reaction to the laser, haze often decreases with time and is more common with PRK.
      Hyperopes
People who are farsighted.
      Hyperopia
The ophthalmic term for farsightedness. In the hyperopic eye, images are focused in back of the retina. The hyperopic eye is often described as being too flat or too short.

I

      Intraocular pressure
The pressure the fluid contained within the eye exerts on the globe.
      Irregular astigmatism
A refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea in which the curve on one side of the meridian or axis is not symmetrical with the curve on the other side.

K

      Keratectomy
The portion of the LASIK procedure in which the surgeon raises a thin layer of the cornea – creates a corneal flap – with an instrument called a microkeratome, to expose the layer of the cornea called the stroma.
      Keratoconous
A rare inherited condition of the cornea in which the cornea is steepened to the point of being cone-shaped.
      Keratomileusis
The carving of the cornea formerly done with a lathe and blade, now done with an excimer laser.
      Keratoplasty
The replacement (transplantation) of the cornea. Keratoplasty can be lamellar (replacement of superficial layers) or penetrating (replacement of the full thickness of the cornea).
      Keratotomy
A surgical incision (cut) of the cornea.

L

      Lamellar keratoplasty
The replacement of superficial layers of the cornea with the layers of another donor cornea.
      Laser
An acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. A medical instrument that produces a powerful beam of light and can produce intense heat or cool vaporization when focused at close range. Lasers are often used in surgery to remove tissue.
      LASIK
The acronym for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. The name refers the use of a laser to reshape the cornea without invading the adjacent cell layers.
      Leucomas
Scars that are dense and white.

M

      Meibomian secretions
Oily secretions from the eyelid glands that supply the outer portion of tear film, prevent rapid tear evaporation and tear overflow.
      Micron
One thousandth of a millimeter. The symbol for a micron is .
      Microkeratome
The instrument a surgeon uses to create the corneal flap in the uppermost layer of the cornea during the LASIK procedure.
      Monovision
The purposeful adjustment of one eye for near vision and the other for distance vision accomplished with either corrective lenses or surgery.
      Myopes
People who are nearsighted.
      Myopia
The medical term for nearsightedness. Eye is too steep, too long, image is focused in front of the retina.

N

      Nearsightedness
See "Myopia"
      Nebulas
Scars that are translucent.
      Nomogram
A surgeon's adjustment to the laser's computer calculation to further refine his or her own results.
 

O

      Off label use
The permissible use of an approved drug or instrument in a way that has not been specifically sanctioned.
      Optic nerve
The millions of optical nerve fibers connecting to the eye and terminating in the brain where images are created and processed.
      Overcorrection
The result achieved when the change to refractive error exceeds the attempted correction.

P

      Pachymetry
The process of measuring corneal thickness, usually using an ultrasonic probe.
      Photorefractive keratotomy
A procedure involving the removal of the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) by gentle scraping and use of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma. Acronym is PRK.
      Plano
Characterized by no refractive error.
      Practice of medicine
A regulatory body's allowance of practitioners to make decisions to best serve their patients.
      Presbyopia
The natural deterioration of near vision caused by loss of flexibility in the eye's lens as one ages.
      PRK
The acronym for photorefractive keratotomy. A procedure involving the removal of the surface layer of the cornea (epithelium) by gentle scraping and use of a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape the stroma.
      Ptosis
Droopy eyelid.

R

      Radial keratotomy
A surgical procedure designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) by flattening the cornea with incisions. The procedure is called a radial keratotomy because the incisions resemble the spokes in a wheel. Acronym is RK.
      Refraction
The bending of light wave as they pass from one medium to another.
      Refractive surgery
Any surgical procedure that attempts to decrease the patient's refractive error. Typically the surgeon alters the shape of the cornea in order to change the angle at which an image is projected onto the retina.
      Regression
A backwards shift from the initial visual outcome.
      Regular astigmatism  
A refractive error caused by an irregular shape of the cornea (usually a football shape) in which the curvature is symmetrical across one or more meridians or axes.
      Retina
Light processing membrane; converts light into electrical impulses that are transmitted to the optic nerve.
      RK
Acronym for radial keratotomy. A surgical procedure designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) by flattening the cornea with incisions. The procedure is called a radial keratotomy because the incisions resemble the spokes in a wheel.

S

      Slit lamp
Table-top microscope for examining the eye.
      Snellen chart
An eye chart used to test a patient's vision.
      Snellen line
A line of same-sized letters on an eye chart that is used to test a patient's vision.
      Spot scanning laser
A medical instrument that produces a powerful beam of light that is focused at close range to remove corneal tissue. Spot scanning lasers use radar technology to track the eye's movement.
      Stroma
Thickest part of the cornea (450-600 microns – approximately .5 millimeters). Between Bowman's membrane and Decemet's membrane.
      Symmetry of refractive error
The refractive error in both eyes are close to the same value.

T

      Tear film
A very thin film of water and other chemicals riding on top of the epithelium that lubricates the front of the eye.
      Topical proparacain hydrochloride
Anaesthetic eye drops.

U

      UCVA
See uncorrected visual acuity.
      Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA)
A person's vision without corrective lenses measured in terms of Snellen lines on an eye chart. Acronym is UCVA.
      Undercorrection
The result achieved when desired change in refractive error is not fully achieved.

V

       Vitreous humor
The gel-like fluid in the main cavity of the eye behind lens and pupil.

 

http://www.kathygriffin.net/lasik.php (yes, you guessed right.  Kathy is the famous actress/comedian and she tells about how badly her Lasik procedure went even after going to a great Dr. and doing her du-diligence first, and she tells about her 5 surgeries that still have not corrected what she lost...
Also, did you know that Jennifer Capriati went to one of the best Lasik Drs. and she no longer can play tennis at night under the lights because of the problem with glares and halos.  She can no longer play her competitive game. 
http://www.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.
http://www.LaserMyEye.org   Started by United Kingdom refractive surgery activist Rebecca Petris, this site offers both great content and great web design. Don't miss the D'ialogues forum, where you can ask frank questions about risk and receive input from both patients and optometrists. Also has an encyclopedia of terms relevant to refractive surgery, as well as breaking news articles.
 http://www.SurgicalEyes.org   From the site, "The purpose of the Surgical Eyes Foundation is to empower past, present and future patients who live with complications of refractive surgery. Towards this end, it will maintain a website as a primary resource for those with complications of refractive surgery to accomplish the following: 1. Coordinating with eye care professionals to facilitate understanding of the needs of those with complications from refractive surgery and advocating for treatment alternatives. 2. Increasing public awareness of the potential risks in refractive surgery and advocating for informed decision making 3. Disseminating information about typical and emerging treatments to individuals with complications of refractive surgery.
 http://www.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.
 http://www.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? Do you have confidence in the integrity and surgical skill of TLC's founder, Dr. Jeffery Machat? 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.
http://www.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."
 http://www.LifeAfterLasik.com  Created by Dean Andrew Kantis, a lasik patient that flew from Florida to Chicago to ensure that the procedure would be given extra detail, and it turns out that just the opposite happened.  The doctor, Nick Caro & St George Corrective Vision Center out of Chicago, IL happens to have 50+ lawsuits from disgruntled lasik patients, and for some strange reason, still has an active license to practice in the state of Illinois.  Needless to say, Dean started a huge investigation where the www.IDFPR.com is going back 10 years on Nick Caro.  Nick Caro is very concerned about the information on this website in that he is a "DEFENDANT" in over 50+ lawsuits, so he started what many are saying is a "frivolous lawsuit" to sue Dean for $2,000,000.00 to try to "quiet" him, and it seems that Nick Caro has a lot of people trying to get "search placement" to try to push our results down, but so far, it has NOT worked and must have set Nick back even more money.  it ended up hurting Dr. Caro's reputation even more.
 http://www.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.
 http://www.LasikSucks4U.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.
 http://www.LasikLiberty.com  (Want to see what the FDA is doing or is NOT doing regarding the FDA's responsibility to Lasik Patients in informing the public, and in establishing a strict "standard of care?"  This website was created by Dr. Michael Patterson, who has been suffering with Post Lasik for over 6+ years...and to date, has found no cure for his post lasik challenges.)
http://www.DrDoka.com  Read the website of a woman's life completely destroyed in June of  2004 from having Lasik Surgery.  Elivra Galindo, continues to make it a mission to let others know how bad Lasik is and that she has gone to over 15 doctors and not one of them have been able to help her with her "post lasik dry eye syndrome.  In fact, it is so bad that she wants to take her life.  As of today, Elvira continues to suffer from this and "sleep deprivation" because her dry eye is that bad.
 http://www.EyeFreedom.com (get an honest opinions on Lasik by a Dr. who treats hundreds of Post Lasik victims:  Dr. Edward Boshnick, Scleral Lenses for Post Lasik problems) 
http://www.noblur.com  (get an honest opinion prior to your Lasik, by a Dr. who treats hundres of Post Lasik victims from all over.  Dr. Ken Maller, RGP lenses for Post Lasik problems)
http://www.kcfreedom.org or http://www.kcglobal.org/ (Very informative forum and focused on Keratoconus, a cone shaping/bubbling eye disorder).
http://www.Lasikdisaster.com  (very informative Post Lasik Information)…
http://www.LasikInfoCenter.net  (very legally informative/has Glare Charts)…
http://www.foxchicago.com/_ezpost/data/16747.shtml (Fox Chicago news on how bad Lasik really is to inform you)
http://www.lasikfraud.com/ (very informative A-Z of Lasik & problems with Lasik)
http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/contact.htm  (FDA file a LASIK complaint)… 
http://www.visionsimulations.com/ (exactly what to expect to see like after Lasik)
http://www.doctormyeye.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.lasikmemorial.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.lasermyeye.org (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.flawedlasik.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.surgicaleyes.org (patient nightmare stories, good Post Lasik Doctors to help you)
http://www.lasikmemorial.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.lasiksos.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.lasiksucks4u.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.lasikreality.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.refractivesource.com (some honest information about Lasik and Post Lasik)
http://www.kcsupport.org (make sure your doctor correctly evaluates you before Lasik)
http://www.cleareyeclinic.com/lasik.html (clinical results of Lasik, 3 questions to ask, but not the right question)
http://www.anattorneyforyou.com/legal/lasik-litigation.htm (list of Lasik Litigation Attorneys to help you)
http://www.ophthalmic.hyperguides.com/default.asp?section=body.asp (pain management & other eye problems/treatments)
http://www.crstoday.com/PDF%20Articles/0105/F3_Daya.html (additional problems Post Lasik)