Astigmatism regression 8 months post LASIK, is my surgeon telling the truth?
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I was 21 when I contoura (LASIK) done April 2023, and its now 8 months post surgery.
Originally, I had -3.25 in the left, -3.0 in the right for nearsightedness, plus -1.75 in the left and -1.5 in the right eye for astimatism.
8 months post surgery, my left eye is really blurry (seeing 20/30 out of that eye, and -1.25 cylinder as of September). I had continuous fluctuation from April - September, and my original surgeon said its normal. I haven't gone back for another vision check yet, but decided to get a second opinion recently. I thought it was dry eyes, but even with eye drops, the vision is still blurry if I close my right eyes. I went to a second opinion and he said my left eye has regressed and told me to get an enhancement, since my left vision is now -0.5 as well with a -1.25 astigmatism? My original surgeon insists that I don't need enhancement.
I know I was a bit too young to get LASIK, but my prescription had been stable for 3 years, so I thought I was in the clear. I'm very confused about the conflicting opinion to get enhancement.
Should I try getting a third opinion? It's very costly to get my eyes checked at a new place, since my insurance doesn't cover a lot of places. What are your thoughts?
0 likes, 2 replies
RonAKA Effabley
Posted
Eyeglasses free vision is normally estimated by using spherical equivalent. That is the sphere dioper plus 50% of the cylinder diopter (astigmatism). Your left eye would yield a spherical equivalent of -1.125 D. That is fairly myopic. However, if your other eye is closer to 0.0 D or plano you may get away with it. But, if your objective is to have 20/20 distance vision in both eyes, then I would agree you need an "enhancement". There may be a limit to what they can do though.
Guest Effabley
Edited
I agree with Ron that -1.125 SE isn't a good outcome and a touchup (if possible) is warranted. That said, at age 21 your prescription likely to keep changing. So although I know it's not what you want to hear and you spent a lot of money on this and deserve to get a good outcome, I might just get glasses for now. I know that would really suck and make the LASIK pointless but touch up or no touch up you'll probably end up back in glasses eventually anyway. That said yes, -1.125 SE is well outside the margin of error for LASIK and you well within your rights to expect better… if possible. I say if possible because the smaller the correction, the harder it can be to achieve. LASIK isn't 100% accurate. I think the margin of error is about 0.5D?