This month, CRST Europe polled refractive surgeons who have undergone refractive surgery to ask about their personal experiences from the patient’s perspective.
Mitchell A. Jackson, MD
Which procedure did you undergo, and what technology was used?
I underwent bilateral LASIK for myopia in 2000. The procedure was performed with a Visx excimer laser (now Johnson & Johnson Vision) and a Moria microkeratome.
Were you satisfied with your outcomes?
I was and am still extremely satisfied with my outcomes.
Why or why not?
I no longer have to deal with contact lenses during long surgery days, working out, or traveling. I was becoming contact
lens intolerant, so, for me, LASIK saved the day.
Allon Barsam, MA, MBBS, FRCOphth
Which procedure did you undergo, and what technology was used?
I underwent femtosecond LASIK.
Were you satisfied with your outcomes?
I was delighted with my outcomes.
Why or why not?
This was a life-changing surgery for me. I now have much better vision than I had with glasses or contact lenses.
Karl G. Stonecipher, MD
Which procedure did you undergo, and what technology was used?
I underwent bilateral femtosecond LASIK in 2002 with the IntraLase platform (now Johnson & Johnson Vision) and the WaveLight FS200 (Alcon).
Were you satisfied with your outcomes?
I was totally satisfied with my outcomes.
Why or why not?
I have plano vision in my dominant right eye with 20/15 UCVA, and -1.00 D in my left eye with 20/40 UCVA by design. I am old and can read, and yes, I have halos, but I am otherwise perfect. I water ski; snow ski; wave surf; surf
(or try to); and hunt dove, quail, and duck.
Robert K. Maloney, MD
Which procedure did you undergo, and what technology was used?
I underwent LASIK with an Automated Corneal Shaper (Bausch + Lomb; no longer available) and a Nidek excimer laser.
Were you satisfied with your outcomes?
Yes.
Why or why not?
For 2 decades after the surgery, I had 20/15 UCVA. After 20 years, I still enjoy 20/20 UCVA.
Dan Z. Reinstein, MD, MA(Cantab), FRCSC, DABO, FRCOphth, FEBO
Which procedure did you undergo, and what technology was used?
I underwent LASIK with Presbyond Laser Blended Vision performed with the MEL 90 excimer laser (Carl Zeiss Meditec).
Were you satisfied with your outcomes?
I was very satisfied with my outcomes.
Why or why not?
I have great vision at all distances from a 10-minute LASIK procedure that was very low risk, very accurate, and had no side effects.
