Post-LASIK Regret

Not sure why I'm posting this. Maybe for therapy. Most of you know the risks. If I had found this subreddit prior to getting LASIK done I don't think I would have done it.

1.5 years post LASIK. I was 37 at the time. I had a mild prescription, only needing glasses to drive and watch TV, but I had mild astigmatism in my left eye which was making it hard to read spreadsheets and such for work. Decided to get LASIK without looking into all of the side-effects and how common some of them were.

I found a "LASIK-mill" as I now know they're called, but it was very well reviewed and the surgeon had completed many surgeries in the past (hence the "mill", in retrospect). I now know they use Wavefront Optimized technology, which is outdated. There was very little post-op support.

The only risk that was made clear to me was the need to wear reading glasses as I got older, which I felt was acceptable as I needed to wear them anyway due to the astigmatism (I now know it's a lot easier to wear one pair of glasses all the time then have to take one on and off constantly). They downplayed every side-effect, simply handing me a list of them prior to the surgery where it said things like "clears up in a few weeks to a few months" "temporary" "very few have longer lasting issues" and it was easy to assume it wouldn't happen to me.

I think back and there were so many points where I should have turned back. I almost cancelled the morning of, feeling I was rushing into things, but my mother thought it would change my life because my brother had done it and was happy with the results. I should have trusted my gut.

Now I have:

  • Worse vision than I did with glasses. I can apparently see 20/15, but it subjectively feels worse. Kind of blurry when I read signs or text from far away.
  • Glare during the day and night. Everything seems "glowy". I think this is largely why my vision doesn't seem as good.
  • Night vision problems: Low contrast, starbursts, halos. I can no longer see my daughter's face while she sleeps. That alone has been devastating. Though I can still drive at night, to some degree.
  • Starbursts during the day when sun reflects off of cars.
  • Difficultly reading white text on a black background. Before I used dark mode on everything. Now it makes things difficult to read.
  • Eye floaters.
  • Chronic dry-eye.

It has been the worst decision I ever made. I'm being treated for dry-eye and hope some of it is the result of that. Not hopeful, to be honest.

I think for people with bigger prescriptions, the change is so drastic that you can ignore some of the side-effects. But now, having looked into them, the rates of permanent complications like starbursts, halos, and especially contrast loss are fairly high overall. At least, high enough that it should be made more clear to patients, especially those with a prescription as low as mine. Seems unethical not to.

If you don't mind glasses/contacts, I do not recommend getting LASIK done from personal experience. There are many who have great outcomes, but I personally do not feel it's worth the risk. If you do, make sure you shop around, speak to several doctors, and use the latest and greatest technology, even if it's more expensive. But make sure it's something you absolutely need to do.

I'm now working on getting topographic scans of my eyes and will speak with Dr. Motwani in San Diego, who specializes in post-LASIK corrections using topographic guided ablation, about possible retreatment. The surgery is expensive, 10k, and the truth is my issues may be "minor" comparatively and not worth the risk of further surgery. His assistant said the side-effects are usually only reduced, on average, by 50%. Many of his patients have regression or irregular astigmatism as a result of LASIK before they see him, which I don't so far. I had my eyes checked two days ago and I see 20/15. It just feels worse. Everything "shimmers". But at this point I'm desperate.

There's also Laserfit in Dallas with Wavefront Scleral contacts, which isn't too far as I'm in Austin. The contacts are 5k, but by all accounts should help with much of what I'm facing. But I spoke to the Dr. and he said the contacts don't really help with corneal scarring, which is where I think the "glow" is coming from. I just wish I would have worn contacts from the start. I'll probably see him anyway.

It has been the biggest regret of my life. Going through a really rough time at the moment because the realization that all of this is permanent just hit me this past weekend, and I've spent way too much time reading comments from people with issues years on. I wake up every morning with regret, anger at myself for being so stupid, and sadness for my life's future. If I didn't have my two kids, suicidal thoughts would be going through my head, but I can't leave them without a father.

Sorry for the long post. I guess I just feel that if I can save just one person from making the mistake I did, these life-long complications may serve some purpose.

I'll update this if I get surgery done or get scleral lenses, as I've seen a lot of people here have questions about their efficacy.

Thank you for reading. I hope you have a beautiful day.