If someone wants to search this forum for Karikhoff, they will find several cases where Karrikoff turned a patient down and Geller went ahead and did the treatment. From what I've learned about floaters, I respect Karikhoff's decision not to treat anyone whom he personally believes will not receive significant benefit. I don't know where Dr Geller got his quote, but it has always been clear to me that Dr Geller does not accept EVERYONE as laser patients. Reviewing my posts, I don't find where I said this, but if I did I misspoke and apologize.

I have asked Dr Geller several times on this forum to post what criteria he uses in more detail, so I am pleased that he has finally shared with us what his criteria are for accepting and rejecting patients. The one criterion he lists that I strongly disagree with is the one where he personally thinks there is little chance of success, but he accepts the patient, anyway, after convincing himself that the patient has been made fully aware of the odds are against him/her, and the patient has "begged" him to try. If the doctor thinks there is little chance of success, the procedure should not be done. This should be the doctor's judgement not the judgement of someone who is desperate for relief and has likely flown great distances. This is Dr Karrikoff's philosophy.

The reader of this post will realize that it is just one person's word against another's, but I know in my case I did not "beg". I was shown the disclaimer that the procedure may not be successful, and Dr Geller said he could not see many floaters, but I was given a clear impression from Dr Geller that he was confident I would see significant improvement. Knowing what I know now, the type of cobweb floaters that I had were not realistically treatable. I am disappointed that it is not listed in Dr Geller's post above that individuals with dozens of strands and cobwebs are not good candidates.

And, I do not appreciate Dr Geller's implied insult that my having several FOV's after my failed laser treatment from him somehow makes my testimony unreliable. Today my eye is wonderfully clear of floaters, and I could not be happier. My vitrectomies were performed by Dr Richard Mackool, one of the most highly regarded ophthalmologists in the country who runs an amazingly organized operation. When I had one significant floater still darting out from the corner of my eye into my central vision after my first FOV, Dr Mackool confidently said he would remove it for me. In his judgement the risks of doing another FOV on that eye were very minimal. Dr Geller's attempt at impugning my character, above, actually questions the judgement of Dr Mackool. All I can say is my eye is clear now, and I am extremely gratified.

I am now attempting to relate as clearly as I can my experiences with both vitrectomy and FOV. If my posts are read, carefully, you will see that I believe there is a place for laser treatment. I think Dr Geller has worked hard and developed a very special skillset that helps lots of people. My narrow interest here is to fully inform desperate individuals with floaters and perhaps not alot of money that they would be wise consumers, and they should have a healthly skepticism, instead of a blind trust. I believe the money paid to Dr Geller to treat floaters is a fair price if Dr Geller fully believes that patient will see significant improvement. I think the money is not well spent if Dr Geller does not believe there will be any reasonable improvement but does it anyway, because the patient "begs". Floaters can be made worse in this situation.