TOPIC: The Truth

The first question generally asked by anyone considering laser eye surgery is, ‘Can you go blind from having laser eye surgery?'

A few months ago Claire Mondor agreed to record an account of her laser surgery story for OERML.

It was a painful process, and Claire made a number of attempts before managing to do so.

It was also incredibly brave, and I am indebted to Claire for making such a valuable contribution to publicising the very real and horrific risks of refractive eye surgery.

No matter where the clinic, or who the surgeon, this is a global scandal that must be addressed by all governments!

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• 2014: Claire Mondor had lasik eye surgery at Lasik MD Vision in Winnipeg Manitoba.

• Dr Desikan Kadambi was the operating surgeon. • Dr Gdih Gdih was the second operating surgeon.

• January 2017: Claire had her left eye removed at the aptly named Misericordia hospital in Alberta. The cost was covered by health care insurance.

• March 2017: Claire had a prosthetic eye made, cost $2,000 CAD (approx £1,245)

The cost was not covered by health insurance, so to add insult to VERY SERIOUS injury, Claire had to pay for this herself!

• The prosthetic eye will need replacing after 5 years.

• Dr Desikan Kadambi now owns Eye Tech Lasik...
www.eyetechlasik.com

'My mother went to him in Brandon and lost sight on her right eye after he [Desikan Kadambi] did laser surgery on her eye. There is no way to really remove a doctor in this country and they can get away with anything. The College protects doctors not patients.' [Just like the UK’s Royal College and GMC] www.ratemds.com/doctor-ratings/68247/Dr-...mbi-Winnipeg-MB.html

• Dr Gdih Gdih is now at Lasik MD Vision... 'LASIK MD surgeons are among the most renowned, highly trained and experienced refractive surgeons in the world. With a LASIK MD surgeon your eyes are in good hands.'
www.lasikmd.com/winnipeg/our-surgeons/la...urgeons/dr-gdih-gdih

New video



NB: If you would like to make a video to add to the OERML library - even if only 30 seconds in length - please contact me This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"In an unlikely twist, Tsai told local press yesterday that he will cease performing the LASIK procedure as it goes against his medical ethics.

He has observed situations in which visual acuity worsens suddenly and rapidly long after the LASIK procedure itself.

Such vision loss deals a huge blow to patients' careers and daily lives.

Possible complications of LASIK treatment include dry eye syndrome, infection, light sensitivity, night glare, and loss of visual acuity."
www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/nat.../Surgery-pioneer.htm

Oculentis and Topcon UK are clearly attempting to limit damage to their reputation in suggesting there are only four MPlus X complaints to the MHRA.

Let me set the record straight!

The Observer story was generated from MHRA filings, and Oculentis are aware of this as they were contacted by the press for comment.

Yet they state: "The main basis for the allegation appear to be the comments of Sheraz Daya. Although the articles read as if he is an independent expert, Mr Daya is a direct competitor of Optical Express and is a consultant to direct competitors of Oculentis.”
(see 6 Jan post)

A cheap shot from Oculentis as the main basis for the allegation were complaints from doctors at Moorfields and Optical Express.

While there may be only four formal complaints by surgeons re the MPlus X lens, I am aware of many more reported by patients.

Details of complaints filed with the MHRA by Moorfields surgeon Romesh Angunawela were leaked to me in September ’14, when I was also told that Optical Express were using the MPlus X lens, apparently implanting more than 7,000 since January ’14.

I will never publish anything without proof, and it was only when Optical Express surgeon George Settas confirmed this to me in November ’14 that I called Dr Angunawela.

He did not return my calls so I emailed Moorfields Medical Director, Declan Flanagan. No response.

When George Settas assured me that he was willing to help in any way he could I spoke with Observer journalist Daniel Boffey, and a producer at BBC 5 Live Investigates.

I offered both the story, on condition they ran it at the same time. They agreed, but the BBC senior editor wanted to wait until mid January.

On 16 December, just as I was leaving the BBC studios after pre recording an interview for ‘You & Yours” (see previous post) Daniel Boffey called and said he wanted to publish the MPlus X story on 4 January ’15.

A bird in the hand...

And that’s how it happened. Nothing to do with Sheraz Daya.

For clarity: since 2013 I have been contacted by alarmingly increasing numbers of patients complaining of similar problems with the MPlus MF30 lens.

On 9 January I advised everyone suffering problems/side effects with MPlus MF30 lens to file a Yellow Card asap: www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/ind...ns-exchange-rle.html

I told the MHRA about this and we are discussing tomorrow.

I invite Oculentis to meet with me asap to discuss the thousands of patients I estimate to be suffering problems with Mplus lenses - X and MF30!

Meanwhile, I have nothing but respect for George Settas, the brave doctor who has spoken out in the best interests of patients, without concern for his own interests.

I hope he has set an example others will follow, because I have plenty more shocks in store - concerning laser eye surgery as well as RLE.

I can name a number of surgeons who are in possession of sensitive and shocking info, keeping silent for various reasons.

Come on boys, time to talk, because it might be your name on OERML soon

In a statement to BBC Radio 4 'You & Yours' on 18 December, the Optical Express spokesman did what PR companies are paid vast sums of money to do - twisted the facts so they bore no resemblance to the truth!

They said: " A number of OE employees have contacted Facebook, the ICO, and Police, regarding unacceptable online communications... rcvd by, or referring to them... (including) a photograph of a head of a slaughtered pig... insults, false allegations, and the posting of personal details, such as tel numbers and a link to their home address."

In fact, the only home address I have ever seen posted on OERML (not Facebook) was a screenshot from the College of Optometrists website, detailing Stephen Hannan's home address as his "Practice 2" address. (Topic: Ex OE employee: ask me a question! 25 Mar 2014 12:30)

The only phone numbers published on OERML and/or Facebook are OE employees' work numbers, included in any OE correspondence sent via email and letter.

And the "head of a slaughtered pig's head" photo that so upset Stephen Hannan was a joke, as can be seen below.

The PR statement spun it to sound like Marlon Brando had been involved.

OE saw me outside the Harley Street clinic that morning, which is why their PR company swung into action with their statement only minutes before the broadcast, ensuring I had no time to respond, even though they'd had days to comment!

As for opinions from the 'media lawyer'; programme producer, Rob Cave, confirmed that he knew nothing about OERML and had never seen this website!

This was the email that upset Stephen Hannan so much he reported me to the police, claiming he felt intimidated:


Read the above thread so it makes more sense

Twelve days ago I received an email from a PC at Glasgow City Centre Police Office asking me to contact him. Curious, I did so…

Stephen Hannan had visited the station in person to make a complaint that emails I had recently sent him were too personal and he felt intimidated by me!

When I stopped laughing I asked the pleasant young PC if he knew who David Moulsdale was. He told me he did (as do most Glaswegians).

Pointing out that Moulsdale is Tweedledum's boss I suggested that he must surely appreciate the absurdity of Hannan's complaint.

I explained who I am, what I do, that I have received bribery offers, and threats against my life from a previous OE director employed as their 'troubleshooter' - coincidentally a murder suspect with a prison conviction for possession of firearms. I told the PC that he must therefore forgive me for not being able to take Hannan's complaint too seriously.

Of course I am sure David Moulsdale was completely unaware of the man's history when he employed him as his 'troubleshooter', as I doubt healthcare providers need to do a DBS (CRB) check on employees not directly involved in caring for patients.

And before the lawyers start getting twitchy, the screenshot below is a snippet from the report filed on my behalf by Surrey police in October 2012. NB: I was completely unaware of its content until I requested a copy under the FOI Act only two months ago.



Back to Tweedledum!

His complaint to the police relates to an email thread concerning correspondence sent to one of my clients mentioning me. This culminated with me losing my patience and telling Tweedledum what I think of him.

I did so politely, but the PC told me Tweedledum didn't like the picture of the pig's head that I included, a joke relating to David Orton's nickname for Hannan.

David Orton's story: www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/ind...-ruined-my-life.html

I will publish the email I sent to Hannan later, and you can judge whether it warranted him being upset enough to visit the police

________________________
15 July 2015:
Re RCOphth story
www.opticalexpressruinedmylife.co.uk/ind...phthalmologists.html :

On 19 Aug 2014, at 18:04, Antonio Uceda-Montanes wrote:

"Dear Sir / Madam

It has come to my attention that a video file containing my image and voice has been posted at the following link on your "Optical Express Ruined My Life" website:



I would be grateful if you could remove my image data and voice data from within this file with immediate effect. You may remove my image data by deleting or blurring my image data throughout the file. Please also remove all audio containing my voice data from within that video file by dubbing over my voice data.

Please note that I am entitled to request that you remove my image data and voice data from within the video file under section 10 of the Data Protection Act 1998 where your use of my personal data (in the form of the image data and voice data) is causing or is likely to cause unwarranted substantial damage or substantial distress to me. I am of the view that your act in making available - without my consent - a video file containing my image data and voice data on a public forum, such as the Internet, is causing substantial distress to me in that I am entitled to a degree of privacy in my workplace and would not reasonably expect a third party to make my image data and voice data publicly available in this manner. I also feel that my personal security in the workplace is threatened as a consequence of this.

I look forward to receiving confirmation from you that you have taken the above steps and have complied with my request as soon as possible.

Yours faithfully
Antonio Uceda-Montanes"

This will shock Optical Express patients over the age of 43 who had LASIK, and those under the age of 50 who had RLE!

On 14 August 2014, damaged Optical Express patient Michelle met with Optical Express surgeon Mr Antonio Uceda-Montanes.

Commenting on the fact that he was wearing glasses, Michelle asked Mr Uceda-Montanes would he not consider having laser surgery.

He replied:
"I will (not) benefit from lasik... I will have to have something called refractive lens exchange (RLE)... that is something that we do mostly after the age of 50... but this time, in this grey area in which laser is not a good option for me, refractive lens exchange will be a good option after the age of 50...

This happens a lot from the age of 45, 43... to the age of 50, 52... it's like a transition period."