From: utzoo!decvax!yale-com!wagar
Newsgroups: net.med
Title: Re: Myopia Corrective Surgery?
Article-I.D.: yale-com.729
Posted: Wed Jan 26 19:52:14 1983
Received: Sat Jan 29 09:17:27 1983
References: ihuxs.274


My brother had corrective surgery for myopia.  The operation is called a
radial keratotamy (sp?), and consists of making 8 or 16 fine slits on the
eye like spokes of a wheel.  His vision has improved to about 20/30 in
both eyes, and he only wears glasses now for heavy reading and the like.
The success rate at the time he had the operation (about two years ago)
was 90% to achieve permanent correction to what he has or better.  Thus,
presumably 81% of operees still have at least one bad eye, and 99% have
at least one good eye.  But techniques have improved considerably since
that time.  In just the time between having his left eye done and his
right eye done (they are done separately), the 8-slit method was made
better than the 16-slit method (less cutting, not as risky), so he has
one eye in each style.  If he squints at a street light, he can see the
radiating lines.

So how much does it cost, and what risks are there?  My brother (age 23)
paid $1500 for each eye.  That's about $100 a minute during the operation.
So far as I know, no one has ever suffered by having the operation, other
than financially.  However, the following risks exist:
 
	1.  Your vision will not be improved.
	2.  Although the cuts completely heal after a month or so, a punch
 	    in the eye could be more dangerous after the operation.
	3.  Most opthamologists believe patients will suffer a greater risk
	    of getting cataracts, and thus shun this operation.  Much more
	    time will be required to determine if this is so.

Thanks to early comers like my brother, this operation is sufficiently
refined to seriously consider if myopia bothers you.  Don't worry about
it ruining your appearance:  I can spot contacts from a distance, but 
these lines are only visible very close up under strong light.

If there is sufficient interest, I will provide the name and address of
the doctor (in Scarsdale, I think) who operated on my brother, and is the
leading practitioner in this country.  He was written up in Parade a few
years back (which is how we heard about him).

					-Steve Wagar
					decvax!yale-comix!wagar