Top Eye Doctor reveals the hard truths that nobody tells you about laserogue surgery … and the people who should never consider it

Laser eye surgery was praised as a medical miracle when it was approved in 1999 – with crystal clear vision without the hassle of glasses or contacts.

But because hair -raising patient accounts and worrying statistics come to the surface, doctors warn that the procedure is not for everyone – and in some rare cases it can prove to be deadly.

Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer at the Penn Hills police outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ended his own life in January after the suffering of unbearable pain, double vision and persistent headache in the five months after his Lasik operation.

Kingerski is one of a growing number of Americans who are driven into suicide due to pain, headache and irritability caused after undergoing lasik operation.

In 2018, a beloved TV meteorologist and mother of two suicide after Lasik Eye Surgery killed.

At that time she was one of the 11 people who were known to have taken their lives after undergoing the procedure.

Dr. Emil Chynn, a leading Cornea surgeon and professor at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, told The Daily Mail that the problem is that thousands of patients are not properly screened.

He ordered that those who suffer from a mental illness and seriously dry eyes remain away from the operation.

“There are very rare reports from Lasik patients who have committed suicide, supposedly because of severe dry eyes,” he said.

“My opinion is that these patients probably had mental disorders simultaneously because it is not useful to commit suicide about a treatable chronic disorder.”

Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer at the Penn Hills police, took his own life in January after the suffering of unbearable pain, double vision and persistent headache in the five months after his Lasik Operation

Every year around 800,000 Americans undergo the procedure – and for most the results are positive.

But Dr. Chynn said that important risks are often traced by doctors, because it is very unlikely that they will influence a majority of patients.

One of the most common side effects is dry eyes – a painful condition that can linger for months or even years after surgery.

According to a 2012 study, 95 percent of patients report a level of dryness shortly after the procedure. About 60 percent still have symptoms a month later.

“In the vast majority of serious cases I have seen,” said Dr. Chynn, ‘patients already had dry eyes before the operation. It just wasn’t picked up – or worse, it was ignored. ‘

That supervision can have devastating consequences.

Dry eyes can cause burning, stabbing and blurred vision. In extreme cases it can read, drive or even unbearable.

“I have seen people deeply,” said Dr. Chynn. “This is an elective procedure and they feel that it has stolen their quality of life.”

He also believes that everyone with mental health problems must be screened and advised before they undergo the operation.

LASIK surgery is one of the most executed laser fracture operations to remedy the facial problems

“I have seen many in my practice who are incredibly upset and sad that this elective function has influenced their ability to work or enjoy their daily lives,” Chynn explained.

‘The vast majority of people who suffer from debilitating [dry eye] Post-lasik already existed [dry eye] Before the operation that was not diagnosed properly, “he said.

Although LASIK surgery has been approved by the FDA and for most candidates is considered safe, the decision to continue after a rigorous screening.

Dr. Chynn argued that this does not always happen -especially in Lasik -centers with a large volume that depend on general ophthalmologists instead of Cornea specialists.

‘Unfortunately, most people who have debilitating are [dry eye] Post-lasik was probably welded by a general ophthalmologist, instead of a cornea surgeon, “he said.

‘Cornea surgeons would perform a more thorough evaluation for [dry eye] Pick up moderately to serious before the operation [dry eye] Patients and the council of such patients to have a different procedure than Lasik. ‘

Although Dr. Chynn does not deny that Lasik can have serious side effects, he insists that most complications can be prevented with the right evaluation.

Lasik does not only fit for people with dry eyes. According to the Refractive Surgery Council, up to 25 percent of patients are ultimately not eligible. That includes people with:

• Thin or irregular cornea
• Car -immune diseases
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• Certain medicines that disrupt healing

Those with extremely thin cornings are asked to avoid Lasik, because there may not be enough remaining tissue to support the structure of the eye and to maintain the stability of vision – which leads to serious complications.

Likewise, individuals with car -immune diseases or uncontrolled diabetes may not be ideal candidates for Lasik, because their disorders can affect the body’s ability to heal well, which may lead to complications such as the melting of the cornea and dry eyes.

The problem, says Dr. Chynn, is that too many Lasik providers follow a one-size-fits-all approach-when the decision is strongly individualized.

According to the Refractive Surgery Council, up to 25 percent of patients who want Lasik operation are ultimately not eligible

He also emphasized that newer or less invasive procedures – such as Lasek, Smile or ICL – are often better suited for patients who are not ideal lasik candidates.

During a laserepithelial keratomileusis, (lasek) procedure, a thin flap of epithelial tissue on the surface of the cornea is created using a laser.

The flap is then lifted and a laser is used to reform the underlying cornea tissue, which corrects the refractive error. The flap is then again positioned over the eye, where it heals and the treated area.

In contrast to Lasik, where two lasers are often used to make the flap and another to reform the cornea, Lasek uses only one laser.

For people with dry eyes, Lasek is considerably better than Lasik, because it avoids creating a cornea flap, which can disturb the nerves and possibly worse symptoms

Lenticula extraction (smile) procedure is also used in a small incision lenticula extraction laser to create a small incision and a lenticula (a thin, disc-shaped piece of cornea tissue). The lenticula is then removed, thereby reforming the cornea and the vision is improved

Smile Surgery also has a lower chance of worsening dryness because it means a smaller incision, which can lead to less disruption of cornea nerves, Chynn said.

Implantable contact lenses (ICL), which is not so broadly promoted, do not remove any tissue at all.

A leading ophthalmologist emphasized that newer or less invasive procedures are often better suited for patients who are not ideal lasik candidates

‘If that had been, those patients would be advised to get Lasek, Smile or ICL, all of whom have a much lower chance of worse existing [dry eyes] Compared to Lasik, “Chynn explained.

Although some lawsuits have claimed a connection between Lasik complications and suicide, the industry claims that there is no proven link.

One estimate posted the suicide percentage in Lasik patients with seven per 100 million, or extremely rare.

Yet Chynn says that rare does not mean irrelevant – and believes that the industry should be more transparent.

“Vision correction surgery is a choice, not a medical necessity, so it’s important to work with your surgeon to make the choices that are best for your health and vision,” he said.

‘Ask yourself: what do you want from a vision correction procedure? Are you active and do you stand in the way of glasses and/or contacts? Do you have trouble with reading glasses? In sports? Outdoor activities? Are you parenthood young children?

“These questions help your vision correction goals in the context of your lifestyle and open a dialog with your doctor to discuss your options.”