Post Lasik

[Charlotte129]

I had Lasik done in July. I am 51 so the dr. gave me monovision. The prescription has cased me so much discomfort. I had a sty in each eye and developed dry eyes. My left eye which was corrected for distance got to about 20/80. I am waiting for the right eye to stabilize to have it also fixed for distance. The two different prescriptions have caused me depression and anxiety in the exterme. My optomitrist gave me glasses,20/30 in the right eye, that should even out the prescription but even those put so much strain on my right eye. It is constanly tired and I feel off center.  I am fearful that I will not regain vision. Is there a way to fix the left eye or am I stuck with this cockeyed vision. Charlotte

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Kerataconus is weakness of cornea so that it goes from curved shaped to a cone shaped. Creates problems with lasik. Go to Google and search the term. e-medicine has good explanation.  Also search "irregular astigmatism".

If the cornea is warped and irregular glasses will not improve vison but a rigid contact lens will smooth out the surface and then glasses testing can be done. If that type of problem several things might be done to help you see better.

JCH III MD

[Charlotte129]

Thank you for your advice. I was planning to have a second opinion so that gives me confidence. Could you explain what keratoconus is and over-refraction over a contact lens? Thank you Charlotte

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

I would recommend a second opinion with an experienced refractive surgeon/corneal specialist. Be sure your dry eye is quantitited with a schirmer test and that your corneal thickness is measured and a corneal topography done.  

Then discuss your options. It is important to rule out irregular astigmatism or keratoconus as even if you are out of sync if you have regular residual corneal astigmatism you should be able to be corrected to 20/20 with glasses.

To test this you may need an over-refraction over a rigid contact lens.

JCH III MD