FDA to Examine LASIK Complaints
Nearly 8 million Americans have undergone LASIK, laser refractive surgery and not everyone is satisfied with their results.
Here at WebMD we've been monitoring the responses from individuals and groups who claim to have experienced unsatisfactory LASIK outcomes. Refractive surgery is the most frequent topic of discussion on this blog. Click here, here, and here to read three previous blog posts dealing with post-LASIK dissatisfaction.
Now the US Food & Drug Administration is getting involved. They have convened a special hearing to explore ways to comprehend the scope of the problem, ways to reduce LASIK complications and ways to improve preoperative communications with consumers.
Data provided by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery indicate that 95% of LASIK patients see better after surgery and are pleased with the decision to undergo LASIK (averaging $2000 per eye). 5% are dissatisfied and 1% of all LASIK patients encounter severe complications like chronic dry eye, blurry vision, poor night vision or visual distortion. Here's some speed math: 5% of 8 million is 400,000 cranky people!
FDA is organizing an expert panel to collaborate with the National Eye Institute and gather accurate information about LASIK results and complications. Skeptics claim FDA is recruiting foxes to study the hen house! Some advocate utilizing non-ophthalmologists to collect and interpret the data as has been done in assessments of coronary bypass procedures and joint replacement surgery. Certainly, ophthalmologists who do not perform LASIK could add valuable input to these proceedings.
Many LASIK experts believe that more scrupulous patient selection can prevent many of these unhappy outcomes. A patient who is told they are ineligible for LASIK will frequently keep shopping until they find a doctor who will agree to perform the procedure. Had the first surgeon spent a few more minutes clearly explaining the reasons for disqualification and the dangers associated with pursuing LASIK.
We will report back with information from this special hearing as soon as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Experts Advise New Warnings for LASIK
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: LASIK, laser refractive surgery, FDA, vision
Here at WebMD we've been monitoring the responses from individuals and groups who claim to have experienced unsatisfactory LASIK outcomes. Refractive surgery is the most frequent topic of discussion on this blog. Click here, here, and here to read three previous blog posts dealing with post-LASIK dissatisfaction.
Now the US Food & Drug Administration is getting involved. They have convened a special hearing to explore ways to comprehend the scope of the problem, ways to reduce LASIK complications and ways to improve preoperative communications with consumers.
Data provided by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery indicate that 95% of LASIK patients see better after surgery and are pleased with the decision to undergo LASIK (averaging $2000 per eye). 5% are dissatisfied and 1% of all LASIK patients encounter severe complications like chronic dry eye, blurry vision, poor night vision or visual distortion. Here's some speed math: 5% of 8 million is 400,000 cranky people!
FDA is organizing an expert panel to collaborate with the National Eye Institute and gather accurate information about LASIK results and complications. Skeptics claim FDA is recruiting foxes to study the hen house! Some advocate utilizing non-ophthalmologists to collect and interpret the data as has been done in assessments of coronary bypass procedures and joint replacement surgery. Certainly, ophthalmologists who do not perform LASIK could add valuable input to these proceedings.
Many LASIK experts believe that more scrupulous patient selection can prevent many of these unhappy outcomes. A patient who is told they are ineligible for LASIK will frequently keep shopping until they find a doctor who will agree to perform the procedure. Had the first surgeon spent a few more minutes clearly explaining the reasons for disqualification and the dangers associated with pursuing LASIK.
We will report back with information from this special hearing as soon as it becomes available.
UPDATE: Experts Advise New Warnings for LASIK
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: LASIK, laser refractive surgery, FDA, vision