8.7 Personal Experiences of Refractive Surgery #2
Description
This article is from the Vision and Eye Care FAQ, by grants@research.canon.com.au (Grant Sayer) with numerous contributions by others.
8.7 Personal Experiences of Refractive Surgery #2
The following information is details of experiences of patients who
have undergone refractive surgery for RK.
RK: Gayle Chidester (gaylec@corp.megatest.com)
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Prior to treatment:
My correction was -4.75D in both eyes with 1D of astigmatism in my left
eye and .75D in my right. This left me with vision of 20/400 (I could
see the big "E" on the chart but it was fuzzy). I had been wearing
corrective lenses for about 25yrs. I had always considered my eye
color to be one of my best features (bright steel blue) but they
couldn't be seen with glasses. I tried contacts, but with my job (dusty,
windy environment) they became impossible to deal with and my eyes began
to become intolerant of the cleaning solutions. I had given up on
contacts and have been wearing glasses exclusively for the last 5 years.
I had heard of RK when it first came to the US in the late-70's but was
always squeemish about the idea of anyone touching my eyes (even the
thought of a glacoma test gives me the willies). Recently the barrage
of RK TV commercials had been catching my attention. After having a
3 week old pair of $350 glasses fall out of their case to go sliding
across asphalt and get all scratched up, I had decided I had had enough.
I then started to research RK.
I picked 2 doctors to "interview". The first one I saw for a "free
consultation", had claims of extensive experience, even performing
surgery with Dr. Feutrov (developer of RK in the former Soviet Union).
After meeting with him and asking him several questions about his success
rates (about 95% improvement, but I couldn't pinpoint him to define
"improvement"), and guarantees (ABSOLUTELY NONE -but I'll take your
money anyway). He charges $1500 per eye. I felt uncomfortable about
this guy (he actually gave me the creeps), and felt that I could not
trust him. When my "free" consultation wound up costing me $80, I knew
there was no way I was going to let this money grubber touch my eyes!
I then went to a free seminar/consultatation at Dr. Kawesch's office. There
were about 12 people at the seminar, Dr. Kawesch showed a video of himself
performing surgery and another about refractive surgery in general, had
former patients give (uncompensated) testimony, provided a big packet of
info, and answered questions. Dr. Kawesch's success rate is over 98% for
corrections of 50% or better. He has a written guarantee for most patients
that vision will be at least 50% better than before surgery, or your money
back. After reviewing my prescription, Dr. Kawesch was able to guarantee
me at least 20/40 or better (which will allow me to pass the DMV vision
test), or my money would be refunded. Dr. Kawesch charges $1300 per eye.
In my research, I wanted to find people that had RK done to talk to
them about their experiences. I found neighbors, fellow students and
co-workers that had gone through RK. Everyone that I talked to had
nothing but good things to say about RK. One of the students had RK done
12 years ago and still has no need for glasses. A co-worker had RK
performed by Dr. Kawesch. She was originally -9D. She had both eyes
operated on and needed enhancement procedures in both eyes due to the
severity of her myopia. She now functions without glasses and uses a
mild perscription for night driving (she doesn't need to since she
passes the DMV exam, but feels more comfortable driving at night with
glasses). Talking to her is what clinched it for me and I called Dr.
Kawesch to schedule an appointment.
The operation itself:
I went into the Dr. Kawesch's office the morning before my surgery was
scheduled to have a comprehensive eye exam done which included a glaucoma
test and extensive examination of my eyes. After the exam, I was given
eye drops to constrict my pupil (the exam required my eyes be dialated,
but surgery can't be performed on a dialated eye). The drops that I was
given (4 doses, one every half hour) gave me a sinus type headache of
almost migraine perportion, but went away after I took an Advil. I was
given 4 perscriptions to fill: 1)an antibiotic drop 2) a drop for
light sensitivity and scratchyness 3)a pain killer (with codeine) and
4) a pill to help me sleep. I filled those while waiting for my surgery
appointment.
I returned to the office a few hours later and they gave me a small dose
of Valium to relax me and reduce the chance of me flinching as my eye
is being worked on. Since my right eye is dominant, they decided to
operate on my left eye first. I was gowned up with a disposable surgery
gown with a cap over my hair and booties over my shoes. They put a little
green sticker on the cap over my left eye so there would be no confusion
as to which eye is receiving the procedure. They then gave me 4 doses of
cocaine drops in my left eye to anaesthetise it over a period of about
1/2 an hour. I was then walked into surgery and helped up onto the
operating table (floor is slick with booties on). After laying down, my
face was wiped with antiseptic. A patch was put over my right eye so I
wouldn't be distracted by the sight of anything on my right. My face was
then covered by a sterile cloth.
An instrument was put in my eye to hold my eyelids open. It was like a
reversed pair of tongs - handles were squeezed to keep the ends together.
I couldn't feel anything in my eye but could tell that someone was
touching around the eye area. The doctor was working on me from the top
of my head as I lay on the table. The microscope (which had a video
camera attached) was then placed above my eye. All I could see was a
bright curly filament of the light in the microscope. I was instructed
to look at the filament and if during the procedure it appears as though
the filament is moving, to look at the point where the filament was
originally. The depth of my cornea was measured using an ultrasound at
several points around my eye. The treatment area was then marked using
two small rings with sterile dye on them, the smallest one in the very
center of the eye and a larger one around the smaller one, giving the
appearance of concentric circles around the pupil. Then a ring that had
spokes going inward like a wagon wheel was used to mark my eye, with
the center of the spokes touching the small inner ring mark that was
previously marked on my eye. A large ring was then held on my eye to
hold it still while the incisions were being made.
The first incision was to correct the astigmatism. An incision was made
along the outer ring mark between two of the spokes on the top side
of my eye. Antibiotic drops were placed in my eye and the cornia was
wiped with a small sponge (about the size of a Q-tip). Then the incisions
to correct the myopia were made along the eight "spokes" between the
inner and outer ring marks. (The doctor had to change hands as he worked
on my eye to go from the right side of the eye to the left side...I'm sure
glad he's ambidextrous!) Antibiotic drops were placed in the eye again
along with anaesthetic drops and something to remove the dye marks. The
drops made me flinch, and Dr. Kawesch asked me if I had taken the Valium.
I told him yes but it must not have taken effect until much later as I
was really relaxed on the way home. ;-) The "tongs" were removed from my
eye and the antiseptic was washed off my face. The whole procedure from
the time the "tongs" were put into my eye until they were removed was
about 10 minutes. They even gave me the video of my procedure!
I was again instructed on the use of the prescriptions and was sent home
(since I had opted for the Valium, it was strongly suggested that I have
my husband drive me home). My eye felt a little scratchy, so I put one
of the light sensitivity drops in. On the way home (we live an hour away)
I wore sunglasses and was able to look around a little since the eye was
not patched. I could already see much better in the operated eye even
though details were fuzzy because the drops that constricted my eye
made it hard to focus. I could already see better in my left (operated)
eye whereas my right (unoperated) eye was of no use at all. When we got
home I put the antibiotic drops in my eye, took one of the sleeping pills
and went to bed.
I woke up the next morning, and for the first time in over 25 years,
I was able to see the alarm clock without glasses! I spent the day
doing the alternating "peek-a-boo", comparing the two eyes. I knew that
I was not quite 20/20, but I knew I was close. I had no pain but had
a dry/scratchy feeling and the eye was very sensitive to pressure. I
couldn't touch or pull on my eyelid, because I would get a strong
reminder from my eye that I had surgery. I had no problem sleeping
but had to watch how I held my head on the pillow to make sure it
didn't put pressure on the eyelid (I sleep on my left side). I wound
up not needing the painkiller at all and only used 2 of the sleeping
pills (one after each surgery). I used both of the drops 4 times a day.
I alternated the drops to get maximum effect (not dilute one with the
other) and to also provide my eye with moisture on a more regular basis.
The following day I was scheduled for the procedure to be repeated on
my right eye. Before surgery, they tested my left eye and it was 20/25!
I was then prepared for surgery. The procedure was the same as what was
done to the left eye except I took an Advil prior to the appointment (to
help prevent the sinus headache from the constricting drops), and I
asked that I be given a little more time to let the Valium take affect.
Since the amount of astigmatism in the right eye was less than 1D,
Dr. Kawesch decided not to do the incision for it. Everything else was
done the same, and since I was now familiar with the way things were
done, I was more relaxed.
On the way home, I could read the road signs as they approached and was
comparing with my husband at which points could we read a sign. I was
matching him for distance reading. I could already tell that my right
eye was better than my left. The following morning, I went down to the
DMV and had the corrective lens restriction taken off of my driver's
license! I could read the chart very clearly!
The next day (Saturday) my husband and I went for a drive in the hills.
I was able to spot three deer and two coyotes before my husband did
(one of the coyotes my husband didn't see until it ran over the hill,
and we had been watching them for at least five minutes)! Everything
seems so much clearer. The contrast between colors is what I notice
the most (I was looking at a Mallard drake recently and was almost
overwhelmed by the irredecence of the head feathers.....it was as if
I had seen them for the first time!)
During my 4 week checkup, I was 20/20 in each eye (missed one character
on the line: was an "H", I thought it was an "M"). Better than 20/20
using both eyes and 20/20 night vision. The doctor examined the surface
of my eye and I am doing so well, my next appointment is in 6 months!
Eight weeks after the surgery, I went target practicing with my husband.
I was able to look through the scope without trouble, whereas before I
would get a tunnel vision effect with glasses, and was unable to line
the scope up correctly, causing me to miss most shots. This time all of
my shots were hits!
Symptoms that I have experienced:
Pain: Mild irritation associated with the dry/scratchy feeling. More
severe with pressure (I would tend to want to rub my eye/pull on the lid
because of the scratchiness but that would cause discomfort, and make
the eye water which would help with the dry feeling somewhat but wasn't
worth the pain trade-off...I learned to keep my fingers away from my
eyes!) Pressure sensitivity decreased until it was completely gone after
3 weeks at which time I could rub my eyes vigorously without discomfort.
Dryness/scratchiness: Mild for about the first week, occasional during the
second week decreasing until completely gone after 3 weeks.
Starburst: Varying depending on how tired I was. (I was working full time
and going to school full time getting about 5 hrs of sleep per night.)
I noticed more starburst later in the week, and it was more intense
at around 11 pm than at 8pm. At 6am it was hardly noticable. Never at
any time did it interfere with my driving. At eight weeks, starburst
was most noticable in the peripheral vision but the central vision was
mostly clear to somewhat fuzzy, with occasional return of starburst
to central vision at times due to fatigue.
Light Sensativity: Noticable during really bright sunny days, but not to
the point of being uncomfortable. Less light sensitive at night
compared to wearing lenses. Can drive at night with someone following
me and have the rear view mirror in the daylight position (in fact, it
helps for the times when starburst is most noticable). Wouldn't even
attempt to do that when I had glasses.
Vision fluctuation: Not often. Most noticable when I'm tired, decreases
ability to make out fine detail.
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