Yuku free message boards

Check out surgicaleyes.com. It is a website completely devoted to problems after refractive surgery.

BBW

I had floaters develop right after my lasik in May 1999. They have stayed basically the same since then. I did not have floaters (or even know what they were) until after lasik. The lasik docs claim that the surgery did not cause the floaters.

I also had to have retinal holes repaired last year after being diagnosed with lattice degeneration (thin retina). The lasik docs preop exam did not note lattice (in fact, there was a box on their exam foem that cited normal retina versus lattice).

I am convinced that the suction used during the surgery disrupted my retina and caused the floaters. I don't think that the cutting of the flap or the laser had anything to do with the development of floaters. I have seen 20 or more postings on various boards regarding floaters and lasik. I wonder if a class action suit against the manufacturers of the suction device would get anywhere? I have had little luck finding a lawyer that is willing to take the case against the lasik docs as their preop forms are fairly ironclad.

Thanks for listening.

Ray

I also have floaters as a result of Lasik. I had it done in Aug. of '99 and noticed the floaters approx. 3 wks later. I did have one floater prior to the procedure, but it seemed like I only saw it when I was really tired. It looks like a pc. of lint floating around. It did not bother me then because I only noticed it one day out of a month or two. I asked the optometrist if this would be a problem and she said no. I was naive and trusted doctors; now I know better. Now I have several floaters which I see when I am outside....you know the story. However, the one I had prior to the surgery I see all the time as it is larger and darker than the rest. I have been back to the surgeon and he said it might be a result of the surgery. Obviously I was very upset. I then went to a retinal specialist and she was not overly friendly as I had stated that I thought the floaters were from the procedure. She said it was coincidental. I think not. I believe it is from the suction cup. I don't believe the eye was meant to be pulled like that. I too suffer from anxiety and depression as a result of these floaters and another health problem I have. I am trying to let go of all this but it is not easy. I have also approached a lawyer regarding this. I plan on getting back to him shortly to discuss this. If I need info. from the rest of you, would you be willing to give it to me?

Hey,

E-mail me at drinkrum@yahoo.com if you would like to contact me. I'm scheduled for LASIK July 27th at Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins with Dr. Terrence O'Brien, who is internationally known both for his contributions to LASIK and for his aptness at performing the surgery.

Of course I will go in their expecting the worst and hoping for the best.

The reason you notice floaters more after LASIK is because your vision is sharper. Take off your glasses and you wll probably see more floaters, because your eyes are focusing near and the distance vision is blurry. Of course if you see fine with glasses now, the difference in seeing floaters after LASIK should be minimal. But perhaps it is small enough to be noticed.

LASIK is more than putting glasses atop your eyes because it changes the way light is reflected back in your eyes.

N

My floaters appeared in the months after my LASIK procedure in January 1999. They do not appear to be getting worse, but are plenty annoying along with the other "features" I enjoy from LASIK. I have heard something of the following about floaters. I am wondering if any of it is useful.

1. People who are more severely nearsighted tend to have more of them, even before surgery. (Actually I had a few minor ones before, but not annoying.)

2. The floaters associated with LASIK could be due to the suction ring but could also be due to the decrease of interocular pressure in the eye, causing the retina to detach slightly. The more cornea removed (i.e. the greater correction required), the greater this effect.

3. Seeing them is the result of improved visual acuity in the eye. Actually I know this not to be true, as I wear glasses to improve my vision to 20/15. This is what I saw before the surgery with glasses no better than I did before. I can tell you those floaters are pretty damn visible though.

Don't know if any of this helps. I'm just looking for answers.

I had the surgery 2 months ago, opted for monovision as I am at that age. Just recently, I see a floater in the eye for distance. From day one of the surgery, my vision was 20/20, and by profession I stare at a computer screen daily. Since no floater was noticed until just recently, I would have to say it developed following surgery. I was wondering if there is something to do for treatment, or is this just a condition to be excepted.