Laser eye surgery complications in Australia: Patients reveal side effects

Australians have spoken about side effects they claim are related to laser eye surgery. It comes after a police officer in the US suicided following complications from LASIK.

Although 99 per cent of people are happy following LASIK surgery, complications like dry eye are possible.

Australians have spoken about suffering life-changing complications from laser eye surgeries in the wake of a US police officer taking his own life due to issues linked to an operation to improve his vision.

Although ophthalmologists say 99 per cent of patients are extremely happy with LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery outcomes in Australia, it has been discussed in America after the suicide of 26-year-old Pennsylvania police officer Ryan Kingerski.

He had LASIK surgery to improve his vision five months before his death.

His parents say he had been having side effects like headaches, double vision and floaters, which are tiny spots that appear in your sight.

The operation, which is carried out about 30,000 times nationally in Australia, takes less than 15 minutes for each eye.

It involves reshaping the cornea, the clear front window to the eye that helps focus light so you can see.

The cornea consists of five layers and the surgeon will cut the outermost one to create a flap so they can then sculpt the underlying tissue, called the stroma, with a laser before re-positioning the thin sliver.

Ryan Kingerski suicided after suffering side effects from LASIK.

The nation’s health watchdog, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, estimates it received up to five complaints about LASIK surgery in the last five years.

This masthead has spoken to Australian patients who say they have suffered problems from having laser eye surgeries.

One man told this masthead he had Photorefractive keratectomy (where the top layer of the cornea is removed rather than creating a flap) in 2018 but now lives with chronic dry eyes.

“Without eye drops, I am unable to function, and even when applied, I have ongoing pain and discomfort,” he said.

“It is most disruptive at night, as during sleep, no eye drops can be applied, causing chronic pain.”

The man who suffers chronic dry eye as a result of an eye procedure.

Justin Carroll, principal solicitor of Carroll Lawyers, is representing the man.

He confirmed the man was examined by a medico legal expert last year who concluded on the balance of probabilities his corneal nerves were affected from the procedure.

Another person, who didn’t want to be identified out of fears no ophthalmologists would treat them going forward, said they had suicidal ideations after a flapless laser eye surgery, called SMILE.

They said they now lived with chronic headaches and double vision.

“I have headaches because I can’t see properly,” they said.

“So, I’m dealing with constant eye pain and headaches in my temples.

“I’m dealing with nausea, I’ve lost my identity as a human being.

“Last night I was trying to watch a movie but I couldn’t see, I couldn’t read on the phone, my eye has gotten worse.

“I cry a lot and it causes inflammation.”

This person said the issues led to them having suicidal ideations which were so severe they had to be hospitalised.

This masthead has confirmed the symptoms and mental health issues with their treating GP.

Perth Laser Vision ophthalmologist Phil McGeorge said LASIK had been around for almost 30 years and the post-operative issues linked to it were small.

He said 99 per cent of people reported having their lives improved and issues with double vision could be fixed with another procedure.

As few as one in 1000 people might end up with severe dry eye, he said.

Dr McGeorge said some may have mild dry eye for three to six months before it resolved.

Optometry Australia, The Australian Society of Ophthalmologists and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists all declined to comment.

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Originally published as Laser eye surgery complications in Australia: Patients reveal side effects