LASIK: New Concerns From the FDA.
Since the mid 90s, over 28.3 million people have had LASIK surgery for vision correction and that number is growing by 700,000 every year. Patients often jump for the possibility of “waking up with perfect vision” ;and in the last few years, flashy advertising, celebrity endorsements and lower prices have made this procedure even more popular. We hear success story after success story about LASIK, but what about the patients we don’t hear from that have post-op problems like blurriness, night blindness, or even permanent vision loss? Is 20/20 vision all that really matters?
As your trusted eye care provider, it is our responsibility to keep our patients aware of the latest in developing stories regarding eye care. A compelling story aired on ABC news on September 22, 2010 from Morris Waxler, PhD (former FDA chief in charge of the group that pushed for approval of LASIK), who has reversed his position on the procedure’s safety. He is now telling the public that 50%+ of LASIK corrected eyes are having major permanent long-term damage, and he is urging the FDA to issue an immediate Public Health Advisory to help prevent further injuries to Americans thinking that this elective surgery carries no risk. This comes after Waxler has reviewed peer clinical studies over the past three years which give him reason for concern.[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvnJ76F78o4]