Every agonising complication of Lasik eye surgery revealed after police officer's suicide
It's long been touted as a simple, safe and life-changing procedure.Every month, more than 100,000 Britons undergo laser eye surgery - £4,000 procedure that reshapes the front of the eye to eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses.Clinics routinely advertise the op, often known as Lasik, as 95 to 99 per cent safe.However, while research shows that in most cases the procedure is safe, in recent years there have been an alarming number of stories of patients who have suffered debilitating and agonising laser eye surgery complications.Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, took his own life in January last year after months of excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches.He claimed Lasik eye surgery he underwent five months earlier was the source of his suffering.Meanwhile, last month, the Daily Mail reported the case of Briana Coria, who says that the procedure ruined her life after suffering irreversible eye damage.Similarly, Detroit meteorologist Jessica Starr died by suicide in 2018 after struggling with complications from the procedure.Now, the Daily Mail can reveal the full list of laser eye surgery complications that have afflicted patients. The recent suicide of a young Pennsylvania police officer has reignited concerns over Lasik eye surgery, as dozens more were pushed to the brink of death over similar complications - despite the surgery being marketed by providers as 95 to 99 percent safe Ryan Kingerski (pictured), a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, took his own life after months of excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches - claiming the Lasik surgery he underwent five months earlier was the source of his suffering In 2018, Detroit TV meteorologist Jessica Starr (pictured) hanged herself at just 35-years-old , leaving behind a 30-page suicide note and videos blaming her tragic decision on the elective surgeryLaser eye surgery was approved in the 1990s to treat vision problems including long-sightedness, shortsightedness and astigmatism.Also known as Lasik, which stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, it involves cutting a flap in the eye with a laser and reshaping the cornea - the eye's clear, protective layer - with another laser.First approved in the 1990s, the surgery takes under ten minutes, so patients can return home the same day.According to The American Refractive Surgery Council's website, 'Lasik is safe and is one of the most studied elective surgical procedures available today... the rate of sight-threatening complications from Lasik eye surgery is estimated to be well below 1 per cent.'However, emerging research suggests the risks may be higher than previously thought, with some studies indicating that as many as a third of patients experience long-term side-effects.Support groups in the UK and US now have around 16,000 members reporting issues ranging from double vision to chronic pain and extreme light sensitivity. Campaigners say many have experienced severe mental distress, with some contemplating suicide.Four years ago, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released worrying new guidance on the procedure.Outlining a litany of potential problems from the surgery - including a risk of permanent double vision, persistent eye pain and even suicide - the FDA told doctors that prospective patients must be warned of the dangers.The FDA has received over 700 complaints of severe pain after laser eye surgery, including symptoms described by women as 'worse than childbirth'. In Lasik and similar surgeries, a small flap is cut into the cornea, which is then raised slightly. This reshaping changes the way that light is refracted to make up for nearsightedness or farsightedness that occur when light doesn't hit the proper spot on the retina.Here is a full list of side effects that patients can suffer:Visual disturbancesOne of the most common side effects from Lasik are 'visual disturbances'.In one clinical trial from 2017, FDA researchers found that nearly half of participants reported 'new visual symptoms' including glare, halos and starbursts after their surgeries.These symptoms are often more pronounced in low-light conditions and can be attributed to corneal irregularities or changes in the eye after surgery.Some patients also experience ghosting - faint double-vision - or difficulty focusing on a single object, which can affect daily activities.However, these changes are generally short lived, and slowly fade away as the procedure heals.Dry eyesAnother common side effect patients suffer after Lasik is dry eyes.Research shows that as many as 95 per cent of people experience the condition, however for most a short course of eye drops alleviates the pain.It happens because the laser temporarily disrupts the surface nerves of the cornea that triggers tear production.Fortunately, it is usually temporary, subsiding within a few weeks to months.However the FDA has warned in its guidance that nearly one in five of patients still needed drops daily to combat dry eye symptoms more than five years after their surgeries.InfectionAs with any surgical procedure, there is a risk of infection - and this extremely rare with Lasik eye surgery.Symptoms to watch out for are increased redness, pain, sensitivity to light, or discharge.Experts say this complication can be avoided by regularly cleaning the eyes and using prescribed antibiotic drops. Modern Lasik has a very low infection risk, estimated at about 1 in 20,000 cases. Modern LASIK has a very low infection risk, estimated at about 1 in 20,000 casesCorneal EctasiaIn some cases, Lasik can trigger a complication called corneal ectasia, which occurs when the damaged cornea bulges outwards.Left untreated, it can lead to severe vision problems, including blindness. Under close examination, clinicians report that many patients with corneal ectasia have visible stretch marks on their eyeballs and white dots where the cornea has detached.Corneal Flap ComplicationsThe Lasik procedure involves creating a thin flap in the cornea.In rare cases, this flap can be incomplete, have irregular edges, epithelial ingrowth, holes, or develop issues during healing.This can cause flaps or wrinkles, which may affect vision. If this is the case then corrective surgery may be needed.Although uncommon, flap dislocation can occur due to trauma to the eye.The earlier in the healing period, the bigger the concern. Often, the flap will have to repositioned by a surgeon.Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)One rare complication is diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). It's sometimes referred to as 'Sands of the Sahara', and triggers severe eye pain.The inflammatory reaction occurs beneath the Lasik flap, usually within the first few days after surgery.Untreated DLK can permanently affect vision.However, when detected early, it often responds well to steroid eye drops....And it can speed up age-related vision issuesLasik does not prevent presbyopia - the natural aging process of losing near vision after age 40.So when patients get the procedure young, you may still need reading glasses for close-up work when you get older.For some patients though the op may accelerate this regression of vision.This can be caused by a number of issues: from untreated dry eye to changes to the shape of the eye as part of the healing.
