Lasik | Lasek Problems
- SuzanneS
I had an initial consultation a short while before, and was told that I was suitable for the LASIK procedure, which meant a shorter recovery time. I paid approx £2800 for the procedure (was supposed to be £3400 but I received a discount for proving a family member worked for the NHS).
I arrived on the 24th for surgery only to be told that due to the shape of my eyes I was in fact not suitable for Lasik, and would have to opt for Lasek. I was advised that they would refund the difference (which took ages to actually be refunded). The lady said that Lasek surgery would just mean that recovery would take a little longer. I remember asking if it was a much more painful procedure, and if the pain afterwards was a lot worse, and would I be able to care for my young son.
She advised that it wasn't painful during surgery, and that every patient is different afterwards and it depends on your pain threshold. She said it would take an additional few days to recover. At no point were the risks of this procedure explained to me.
As I had prepared myself to have laser eye surgery that day, I felt very disappointed that I couldn't have the procedure I wanted, and asked them why do they bother arranging an initial consultation with somebody who obviously isn't that experienced, if they were then they would have known I wasn't suitable and it would have given me longer to research it and think about it.
I was told I could have a short period of time to think about whether I wanted to go ahead or not.
I felt like I had to go ahead as I was there and things had been organised.
By the time I had arrived home I was experiencing excruciating pain in my eyes. I can only describe the pain as my eyes being on fire and then being stabbed in the eyeball with a knife that had been used to cut onions. I have never ever experienced pain like that before (I nearly died in during giving birth so I have been through a very painful experience before!)
I panicked, I thought I was blind, I couldn't open my eyes. I thought it must have gone wrong as surely it wouldn't be legal to carry out this procedure if it had these consequences, especially without advising me that it could he this painful. My husband phoned the helpline, they simply said this was normal and that I had to do my best to prize open my eyes to put drops in.
I was screaming in pain, punching the walls, punching myself. I was beside myself.
Nearly 2 years down the line and I am still suffering. At my follow up appointments I completed a survey each time, and always stated that I would not recommend the procedure, that I deeply regretted having it done and that I was having problems. I am unsure as to why they ask you to complete the survey as they never followed it up.
The consultant said my eyes were fine every time. I explained that I kept having very dry eyes. There are some days when either one or both of my eyes are so sore that I can't even open them, or have to wear dark glasses indoors.
I gave up on attending appointments as I felt like nobody was really listening to me and they always said my eyes were fine and would get better in time. And I no longer have the trust in OE to allow them to check my eyes.
I arrived on the 24th for surgery only to be told that due to the shape of my eyes I was in fact not suitable for Lasik, and would have to opt for Lasek. I was advised that they would refund the difference (which took ages to actually be refunded). The lady said that Lasek surgery would just mean that recovery would take a little longer. I remember asking if it was a much more painful procedure, and if the pain afterwards was a lot worse, and would I be able to care for my young son.
She advised that it wasn't painful during surgery, and that every patient is different afterwards and it depends on your pain threshold. She said it would take an additional few days to recover. At no point were the risks of this procedure explained to me.
As I had prepared myself to have laser eye surgery that day, I felt very disappointed that I couldn't have the procedure I wanted, and asked them why do they bother arranging an initial consultation with somebody who obviously isn't that experienced, if they were then they would have known I wasn't suitable and it would have given me longer to research it and think about it.
I was told I could have a short period of time to think about whether I wanted to go ahead or not.
I felt like I had to go ahead as I was there and things had been organised.
By the time I had arrived home I was experiencing excruciating pain in my eyes. I can only describe the pain as my eyes being on fire and then being stabbed in the eyeball with a knife that had been used to cut onions. I have never ever experienced pain like that before (I nearly died in during giving birth so I have been through a very painful experience before!)
I panicked, I thought I was blind, I couldn't open my eyes. I thought it must have gone wrong as surely it wouldn't be legal to carry out this procedure if it had these consequences, especially without advising me that it could he this painful. My husband phoned the helpline, they simply said this was normal and that I had to do my best to prize open my eyes to put drops in.
I was screaming in pain, punching the walls, punching myself. I was beside myself.
Nearly 2 years down the line and I am still suffering. At my follow up appointments I completed a survey each time, and always stated that I would not recommend the procedure, that I deeply regretted having it done and that I was having problems. I am unsure as to why they ask you to complete the survey as they never followed it up.
The consultant said my eyes were fine every time. I explained that I kept having very dry eyes. There are some days when either one or both of my eyes are so sore that I can't even open them, or have to wear dark glasses indoors.
I gave up on attending appointments as I felt like nobody was really listening to me and they always said my eyes were fine and would get better in time. And I no longer have the trust in OE to allow them to check my eyes.
Last Edit:11 Feb 2015 20:20
by SuzanneS
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- Kirsty O'Brien
I had lasik surgery in 2013 thinking this is it, no more glasses, I will be able to see in HD as I was told. But unfortunately this is not the case
My prescription was only small and my surgery was mainly for astigmatism, which is still there and affects my vision at all times.
My distance vision and my close up vision are now both very poor, and my eyes are very dry and get quite painful. I find it very hard to see at night and car lights coming towards me are painful. I have problems during the day with any brightness and find I wear sunglasses all the time, even in dull days. Even the light from my laptop hurts my eyes and it never did before.
All this causes a lot of problems for me - and I was led to believe my eyesight would be perfect.
i went back to see Khalid Khan after I complained that I still had astigmatism and all he said to me was if I had more surgery it would make my dry eyes even worse and to take flax-seed supplements!!
When I googled his name Dr Khalid Khan is no longer on the Optical Express list of surgeons, but I found this!
My prescription was only small and my surgery was mainly for astigmatism, which is still there and affects my vision at all times.
My distance vision and my close up vision are now both very poor, and my eyes are very dry and get quite painful. I find it very hard to see at night and car lights coming towards me are painful. I have problems during the day with any brightness and find I wear sunglasses all the time, even in dull days. Even the light from my laptop hurts my eyes and it never did before.
All this causes a lot of problems for me - and I was led to believe my eyesight would be perfect.
i went back to see Khalid Khan after I complained that I still had astigmatism and all he said to me was if I had more surgery it would make my dry eyes even worse and to take flax-seed supplements!!
When I googled his name Dr Khalid Khan is no longer on the Optical Express list of surgeons, but I found this!
Last Edit:11 Feb 2015 18:04
by Kirsty O'Brien
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- Mr Starburst
- Offline
- Posts: 97
- Thanks: 12
"One of the plaintiffs, Hitomi Terada, 60, told a news conference on Wednesday that she has suffered from consistent burning pain and has to apply a cooling pad every few minutes just to cope.
“I can’t open my eyes like before and I have contemplated killing myself,” she said. “I decided to file a suit so no more people will be victimized like me.”
The plaintiffs underwent the procedure between 2006 and 2013. But they were not properly informed about the potential health risks beforehand, and the operations by the two operators in Tokyo did not follow safety guidelines set by the Japanese Ophthalmological Society, the plaintiffs claimed."
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/18/nat...h-woes/#.VNsjD41yaP8
“I can’t open my eyes like before and I have contemplated killing myself,” she said. “I decided to file a suit so no more people will be victimized like me.”
The plaintiffs underwent the procedure between 2006 and 2013. But they were not properly informed about the potential health risks beforehand, and the operations by the two operators in Tokyo did not follow safety guidelines set by the Japanese Ophthalmological Society, the plaintiffs claimed."
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/12/18/nat...h-woes/#.VNsjD41yaP8
Last Edit:11 Feb 2015 11:24
by Mr Starburst
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- Suzanne
I am suffering from dry eyes nearly 2 years on
I don't believe that the risks were explained to me before surgery, and Optical Express couldn't really care afterwards and have constantly told me it's normal. If it's normal then they should tell you this beforehand!
I don't believe that the risks were explained to me before surgery, and Optical Express couldn't really care afterwards and have constantly told me it's normal. If it's normal then they should tell you this beforehand!
Last Edit:10 Feb 2015 17:40
by Suzanne
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- Lynn
My husband and I both had laser eye Surgery at Optical Express in 2007, me at Harley Street and my husband at Bluewater. Whilst everything was fine for a while we now have to wear reading glasses and we both suffer from 'painless migraines' (like looking through a kaleidoscope) for a period of 20 mins when you cannot see anything. It doesn't happen often but we never had it before surgery.
I suffer from dry eyes and have had conjunctivitis. I use Blink drops every day as I use a PC all day so understandably that does not help. I only had surgery as I could not get glasses to fit correctly and my husband was fed up of not being able to swim on holiday in case he lost his glasses in the sea and the salt would scratch them. I don't know if any of these symptoms are caused or contributed by laser surgery, but it's a strange coincidence that we both have them, and the only warning we were given before surgery was that it would not stop "age degeneration".
I suffer from dry eyes and have had conjunctivitis. I use Blink drops every day as I use a PC all day so understandably that does not help. I only had surgery as I could not get glasses to fit correctly and my husband was fed up of not being able to swim on holiday in case he lost his glasses in the sea and the salt would scratch them. I don't know if any of these symptoms are caused or contributed by laser surgery, but it's a strange coincidence that we both have them, and the only warning we were given before surgery was that it would not stop "age degeneration".
Last Edit:10 Feb 2015 13:16
by Lynn
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- Angry with nhs doctors too
Replied by Angry with nhs doctors too on topic Mr Julian Stevens @ Moorfields
Posted 30 Jan 2015 10:29 #96
Mr Julian Stevens has made me very, very angry.
In the past few days, it has been brought to my attention that he passed on my NHS records, directly to my non NHS surgeon, without my consent.
Who the hell does this arrogant man think he is? He passed them on under the pretence that my surgeon had referred me to him; this was most certainly NOT the case.
I am so angry that I need to cool down, before I decide what I want to do about it. This man was not only horribly arrogant and callous when he saw me on the NHS, but also wrote copious amounts playing down my injuries. In my opinion, he did this because there is nothing that can be done to help me (his advice was worse than useless), and most of these surgeons cover for one another's disasters, convincing themselves they have done nothing wrong!
While still on the boil, I would like to mention that another doctor has reported that the adverse effects I am experiencing are severe and numerous, and Mr Stevens would probably be whimpering if he had to live with them; but of course he won't ever have to, because he would never risk his own eyes. He is happy to wear glasses. Do NHS refractive surgeons, who also offer laser eye surgery privately, really and truthfully make their patients aware of the risks?
In the past few days, it has been brought to my attention that he passed on my NHS records, directly to my non NHS surgeon, without my consent.
Who the hell does this arrogant man think he is? He passed them on under the pretence that my surgeon had referred me to him; this was most certainly NOT the case.
I am so angry that I need to cool down, before I decide what I want to do about it. This man was not only horribly arrogant and callous when he saw me on the NHS, but also wrote copious amounts playing down my injuries. In my opinion, he did this because there is nothing that can be done to help me (his advice was worse than useless), and most of these surgeons cover for one another's disasters, convincing themselves they have done nothing wrong!
While still on the boil, I would like to mention that another doctor has reported that the adverse effects I am experiencing are severe and numerous, and Mr Stevens would probably be whimpering if he had to live with them; but of course he won't ever have to, because he would never risk his own eyes. He is happy to wear glasses. Do NHS refractive surgeons, who also offer laser eye surgery privately, really and truthfully make their patients aware of the risks?
Last Edit:30 Jan 2015 11:03
by Angry with nhs doctors too
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- This Stinks !
I find it morally repugnant that a surgeon 'filters off' a damaged patient from the NHS to their private practice, and has then profited greatly whilst leaving the patient worse off than before.
From all the complaints I've read about him, Julian Stevens appears to be no better than Optical Express!
___________________
admin: This is on the agenda for my meeting with the Health Minister next week
From all the complaints I've read about him, Julian Stevens appears to be no better than Optical Express!
___________________
admin: This is on the agenda for my meeting with the Health Minister next week
Last Edit:28 Jan 2015 16:19
by This Stinks !
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- Zerin Denizer
After I had laser eye surgery at Optimax in 2000 I later had trouble seeing the computer at work. in November 2010 I was referred to Mr Julian Stevens at Moorfields, via the NHS. He informed me that laser surgery had improved since 2000 and recommended that I had Lasik. He said he could do it at his private clinic for £4000.
I said I would be happy with that, and he told me to make an appointment.
Four months later in February 2011, after I had all the tests he told me there was nothing he could do for me. He didn't remember me so I reminded him that I had previously seen him via the NHS when he told me he could provide Lasik. He then asked for my file to be sent over and after looking at it said he could so something after all.
I wish now that I had accepted him saying he couldn’t do anything, because I wouldn’t be in the mess that I am in now.
I had to sign a consent form saying that he had explained all the risks to me, which he never did, not at any time. All he said was that it was a simple procedure and that I would see 7 times better. I believe he should also have explained the complications for a person of my age.
After the surgery my right eye had a red gash on the white of my eye, and to this day my right eye gives me more trouble than my left.
Before surgery on 8 April 2011 my distance vision was perfect, but the day after the operation it was blurred. Mr Stevens informed me that when the bandage lens was removed the blurriness would gradually go. After a week or so it was still the same, so he gave me Minims Dexamethasone sodium phosphate to take until my 3 month checkup.
Still blurred, so he gave me Cicosporin for dry eye. I used it for 6 weeks, but my eyes were getting worse so I stopped.
At every checkup I informed him that there was no difference and that I still had blurred vision. I told him that I felt like I had the wrong contact lens in each eye.
Six months later he handed me a leaflet on Blepharitis. Reading the leaflet I thought that could be the reason as I felt like I had Vaseline over my eyes.
I therefore went away thinking that the problem was Blepharitis, which after reading up on it, it can happen after laser surgery and especially in menopausal women.
Although since then I have found out that with Blepharitis some days you have perfect vision and other days you do not. I never had perfect vision, and Julian Stevens was aware of that every time I saw him for a check up.
I therefore followed a regime, which I do to this day, heating a pack for my eyes, pushing my eyelids, cleaning with suprettes and using eye drops, which costs time and money. I also take Omega-3 tablets.
Still no improvement, so I went back to see him in January 2012 and asked if there was anything more I could do. He told me the procedure was 100% successful, said I was doing fine and was sure I would be Ok by the summer. Said to come back in 6 months, gave me more drops for dry eyes, but after 4 weeks I stopped taking them as they were making my eyes worse.
I saw Julian Stevens again in May 2012, still with blurred vision. He recommended that I had Lipiflow, still claiming the laser procedure had been 100% successful!
In October 2012 his secretary sent an email asking how I was getting on and did I have the Lipiflow treatment. I told her that my symptoms were still the same, that I had seen another Moorfields consultant via the NHS, who wasn’t very helpful and had given me tablets that had made me feel sick and my blurred vision worse.
The reports I'd read on Lipiflow weren't great, costing £2,000, and after paying £4,000 for the laser surgery I told her that was a last resort. Said I was at the end of my tether as it had now been 18 months since surgery and asked if they could recommend a specialist. She said Mr Stevens was happy to see me on the NHS. Well as he hadn’t been very helpful up to then, I really didn’t see the point.
In 2013 I saw David O’Brart privately, who said I had mild dry eye and inserted punctal plugs in my lower eyelids. When I went back he said that my eyes were now normal, but I had no visual improvement. He said he didn’t know why I was not able to see clearly, and that it must be from the laser surgery.
Having blurred vision has affected how I live my life. I have glasses for the computer, which do help but I still feel like I have contact lenses in the wrong eyes, giving an unbalanced feeling. Much of my work is on the computer and I have to keep taking breaks as I feel nauseous if I work on it for too long.
My eyes have got worse, and I now wear glasses to watch television, which I never had before, but I still get an unbalanced feeling and can only watch for a short time.
Nearly every day now I get a headache, and I have dizziness, so have had to take days off work. I had a brain scan and have been diagnosed with migraine, which I am sure is from the blurred vision.
For the first year I didn’t drive or watch television. I listened to the radio and audio books. But after a year when it wasn’t getting any better, I wanted to watch television and be able to drive. I now watch television for a short amount of time, and usually record programmes so that I don’t have to look at the adverts and can stop when I start feeling nauseous. I haven’t been able to go the cinema since the surgery.
I drive short distances in the daylight, but can only drive for about 10 minutes when it gets dark.
Julian Stevens didn’t take my complaints of blurred vision seriously. He just fobbed me off with Blepharitis.
I said I would be happy with that, and he told me to make an appointment.
Four months later in February 2011, after I had all the tests he told me there was nothing he could do for me. He didn't remember me so I reminded him that I had previously seen him via the NHS when he told me he could provide Lasik. He then asked for my file to be sent over and after looking at it said he could so something after all.
I wish now that I had accepted him saying he couldn’t do anything, because I wouldn’t be in the mess that I am in now.
I had to sign a consent form saying that he had explained all the risks to me, which he never did, not at any time. All he said was that it was a simple procedure and that I would see 7 times better. I believe he should also have explained the complications for a person of my age.
After the surgery my right eye had a red gash on the white of my eye, and to this day my right eye gives me more trouble than my left.
Before surgery on 8 April 2011 my distance vision was perfect, but the day after the operation it was blurred. Mr Stevens informed me that when the bandage lens was removed the blurriness would gradually go. After a week or so it was still the same, so he gave me Minims Dexamethasone sodium phosphate to take until my 3 month checkup.
Still blurred, so he gave me Cicosporin for dry eye. I used it for 6 weeks, but my eyes were getting worse so I stopped.
At every checkup I informed him that there was no difference and that I still had blurred vision. I told him that I felt like I had the wrong contact lens in each eye.
Six months later he handed me a leaflet on Blepharitis. Reading the leaflet I thought that could be the reason as I felt like I had Vaseline over my eyes.
I therefore went away thinking that the problem was Blepharitis, which after reading up on it, it can happen after laser surgery and especially in menopausal women.
Although since then I have found out that with Blepharitis some days you have perfect vision and other days you do not. I never had perfect vision, and Julian Stevens was aware of that every time I saw him for a check up.
I therefore followed a regime, which I do to this day, heating a pack for my eyes, pushing my eyelids, cleaning with suprettes and using eye drops, which costs time and money. I also take Omega-3 tablets.
Still no improvement, so I went back to see him in January 2012 and asked if there was anything more I could do. He told me the procedure was 100% successful, said I was doing fine and was sure I would be Ok by the summer. Said to come back in 6 months, gave me more drops for dry eyes, but after 4 weeks I stopped taking them as they were making my eyes worse.
I saw Julian Stevens again in May 2012, still with blurred vision. He recommended that I had Lipiflow, still claiming the laser procedure had been 100% successful!
In October 2012 his secretary sent an email asking how I was getting on and did I have the Lipiflow treatment. I told her that my symptoms were still the same, that I had seen another Moorfields consultant via the NHS, who wasn’t very helpful and had given me tablets that had made me feel sick and my blurred vision worse.
The reports I'd read on Lipiflow weren't great, costing £2,000, and after paying £4,000 for the laser surgery I told her that was a last resort. Said I was at the end of my tether as it had now been 18 months since surgery and asked if they could recommend a specialist. She said Mr Stevens was happy to see me on the NHS. Well as he hadn’t been very helpful up to then, I really didn’t see the point.
In 2013 I saw David O’Brart privately, who said I had mild dry eye and inserted punctal plugs in my lower eyelids. When I went back he said that my eyes were now normal, but I had no visual improvement. He said he didn’t know why I was not able to see clearly, and that it must be from the laser surgery.
Having blurred vision has affected how I live my life. I have glasses for the computer, which do help but I still feel like I have contact lenses in the wrong eyes, giving an unbalanced feeling. Much of my work is on the computer and I have to keep taking breaks as I feel nauseous if I work on it for too long.
My eyes have got worse, and I now wear glasses to watch television, which I never had before, but I still get an unbalanced feeling and can only watch for a short time.
Nearly every day now I get a headache, and I have dizziness, so have had to take days off work. I had a brain scan and have been diagnosed with migraine, which I am sure is from the blurred vision.
For the first year I didn’t drive or watch television. I listened to the radio and audio books. But after a year when it wasn’t getting any better, I wanted to watch television and be able to drive. I now watch television for a short amount of time, and usually record programmes so that I don’t have to look at the adverts and can stop when I start feeling nauseous. I haven’t been able to go the cinema since the surgery.
I drive short distances in the daylight, but can only drive for about 10 minutes when it gets dark.
Julian Stevens didn’t take my complaints of blurred vision seriously. He just fobbed me off with Blepharitis.
Last Edit:28 Jan 2015 14:29
by Zerin Denizer
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- Dani
My husband had his eyes lasered in 2011 at OE Cardiff. One eye has healed and is perfect however the other has been left with damage which we are still waiting to be 'fixed' by Harley St Complex Case team.
After many many visits to Harley St we finally felt like we had an answer only for Jan Venter to retire - before 'fixing' hubby's sight.
Best OE quote to date was when my hubby asked why the complication he has was NOT in the small print.... JV's answer: 'the risk is so low that it didn't need to be in there' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After many many visits to Harley St we finally felt like we had an answer only for Jan Venter to retire - before 'fixing' hubby's sight.
Best OE quote to date was when my hubby asked why the complication he has was NOT in the small print.... JV's answer: 'the risk is so low that it didn't need to be in there' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last Edit:25 Jan 2015 22:24
by Dani
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- Enraged
Replied by Enraged on topic Thousands of patients suffer surgery failure.
Posted 20 Jan 2015 17:09 #100
I too, am mad with rage at his thoughtless comment; I have lost so much contrast sensitivity that I have to look at the world "through a net curtain" not ideal.
I feel as though I have been buried alive, and my hands are bleeding from trying to claw my way out! Cant any of these surgeons imagine what trashed eyesight does to someone? They make me sick!
I feel as though I have been buried alive, and my hands are bleeding from trying to claw my way out! Cant any of these surgeons imagine what trashed eyesight does to someone? They make me sick!
Last Edit:20 Jan 2015 17:45
by Enraged
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