Reply: Refractive Surgery Shock Syndrome

I hadn't heard of RSSS before and it is almost liberating to read in detail what I've experienced but been unable to explain to people who haven't gone through it themselves.

It's with a sense of relief that this is recognised as being serious enough to deserve a name!

PTSD was not recognised as a real disorder with specific symptoms that could be reliably diagnosed until 1980 when it was added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

This gives me hope that RSSS will be similarly recognised and it's symptoms stand as a warning to anyone considering this risky and unregulated surgery!

I knew I could not be the only person to contemplate suicide, with panic attacks and self harm, to have stress related problems and depression, whereas I used to be so happy and healthy before my eyes were trashed.

However, I am shocked at the number of eye surgery victims to suffer in this way. It is about time ALL ophthalmologists understand what these problems do to us psychologically; research already suggests eye doctors lack empathy for their patients - this needs to change!

www.lasikcomplications.com/RSSS.pdf