Dr. Oz and LASIK Patient Safety – – Part 1

On Thursday, October 3, 2013, Dr. Oz, an eminent cardiac surgeon by training himself, presented a segment on the dangers of LASIK eye surgery.

Cynthia MacKay, M.D., said that LASIK surgery is the one surgery that eye doctors will not get.

Dr. Oz reported a 20% complication rate, including dry eye and visual disturbances such as glare and halos.

He cited to a Consumer Reports survey of LASIK patients, which reported that three years after surgery, 50% of patients said they would not choose to have the surgery, and they were using glasses.

Finally, Dr. Oz said it makes his “blood boil” that five years after the FDA held hearings on LASIK patient safety, it still has not produced its long-overdue report.

I testified at that FDA hearing in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 2008.  A reliable source informs me that there is no FDA report because no one in the LASIK industry was willing to participate, except for the United States Department of Defense.  That is the same Department of Defense that prohibits its pilots from having LASIK surgery!  The skeptic in me suspects that LASIK surgeons refuse to participate in a long-overdue patient safety study because they cannot support their supposed 1% complication rate.

It’s great to have someone of Dr. Oz’s stature and objectivity warn his audience about the hazards of LASIK surgery.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a doctor, you should promptly contact an attorney with experience in medical malpractice.  The Law Office of Todd J. Krouner has a proven track record of helping patients injured by LASIK (and other forms of medical malpractice) all over the country.  To determine if you have a strong case, contact us for a free consultation at (914) 238-5800.