In 2008, the FDA conducted a highly publicized review of quality of life following Lasik laser vision correction. The Caster Eye Center was proud to be selected by the non-profit Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance, a patient advocacy group, to participate in a national survey for this important FDA meeting. Our office was one of six throughout the United States, each selected for its outstanding reputation, to participate in this confidential survey of 1,800 Lasik vision correction patients. The patients were selected at random and the results were confidentially obtained and tabulated by the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance.
The study showed that more than 99% of patients reported their overall quality
of life to be as expected or better than expected after laser vision correction.
Some additional results of this post-treatment, confidential survey:
- 96% wear corrective lenses as often as expected, less than expected, or
much less than expected
- 96% report post-treatment vision without lenses as expected, better, or
much better than expected when compared to pre-treatment vision with glasses
or contact lenses
- 7% report side effects which are seldom problematic; 91% of these same
patients would have the treatment again
In the patients treated by this select group of doctors, 0.4% -- one in every
250 patients – would definitely not recommend the LASIK treatment to a friend.
Although we wish that we could make this number zero, and we are trying, I still
think that this is an exceedingly small number of people who are not adequately
satisfied. This is also an extremely low dissatisfaction rate compared to other
types of medical procedures, or other types of activities in general.
The two main problems reported by these laser vision patients were feelings
of dryness and night vision issues such as halos and glare. Of course, many
people have difficulty with dryness and night vision problems prior to laser
vision correction when using their glasses or contact lenses. Our goal is to not
make the dryness and night vision problems worse, or even to improve
pre-existing dryness and night vision issues compared to glasses and contact
lenses. Both of these side effects, in our experience, are typically temporary
and are largely preventable on an ongoing basis because of the latest
advancements in the technology and by matching the right patient to the right
procedure.
Unfortunately for patients, the average laser center results are not nearly
as good as our results. Patients need to spend more time selecting an excellent
doctor and not be swayed by low prices. Low price equates to lower quality
equipment and personnel, less intensive screening testing, and a less exacting
attitude, with resulting lower quality visual results.
The above survey shows the results that we at Caster Eye Center are able to
provide for our patients. We are proud that Caster Eye Center was chosen as one
of the top sites in the nation to survey for this important FDA evaluation. We
are proud of the work we do and of our results.
Sincerely,
Dr. Andrew Caster
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FDA Quality of Life Investigation