Surgery date(s)

February 2003

Time elapsed when survey submitted

5 months

Age at time of surgery

Not reported

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Glasses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: ÒMediumÓ

Astigmatism: Yes

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

20/20

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

Substantial dry eye requiring daily treatment

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

9

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Increased safety or convenience for sports or other leisure activities
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Family, friends or acquaintances who have had laser surgery
• Online
• Other

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Family, friends or acquaintances
• Website of the clinic patient attended
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk
• In brochures or other media produced by the clinic
• In news reports

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• The clinic was recommended by an acquaintance.
• I had an evaluation at more than one clinic and selected the one I thought was best based on my experience during the evaluation.
• My surgeon was a consultant ophthalmologist.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

4

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

NO/A

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

4

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

4

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

NO/A

My only problem was/is dry eye Ð but is being managed OK now.  I have had the tearduct plugs and they have alleviated the problem.  After trial and error, I have found suitable preservative free drops (Allergan Refresh) which I use four times a day, but this is really no bother.

Initially I didn't know what dry eye was, or the symptoms and initially when using normal drops I developed an allergy to them.  Hence, the use of preservative free.  I did use various types until I found some which suited me.

Dry eye is the only complication I have had.  Overall I am pleased with the procedure.

Surgery date(s)

March 2003

Time elapsed when survey submitted

4 months

Age at time of surgery

34

Type of surgery

Wavefront LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Soft contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -3.75

Astigmatism: ?

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

20/30 one eye, 20/20 the other

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

Does not state

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

Dry eye

Light sensitivity

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

Not rated

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• None specified

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.surgicaleyes.org

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• My surgeon was a consultant ophthalmologist.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

NO

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

3

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

3

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

3

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

3

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

1

I found the procedure really painful but this may have been because I had got little sleep the night before, had dressed lightly and felt cold in the operating room and also was generally tense about the whole thing. Lack of relaxation can affect your sensitivity to the slightest cut even under anaesthetic Ð so get some good sleep, dress warmly (though not in wool as that interferes with the laser) and try to relax all your muscles. The surgeon was a miserable individual when I jumped about during the procedure and his barking animosity did not assist Ð thankfully the clinic director was on hand to reassure me throughout and I got through it somehow.

Surgery date(s)

July 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

12 months

Age at time of surgery

34

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Soft contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -3.25, -3.75

Astigmatism: Unsure

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

Not reported

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

Not reported

Adverse effects (visual)

• Vision ÒpoorÓ
• Vision with glasses not as good as with glasses before surgery
• Loss of contrast sensitivity
• Poorer night vision

Adverse effects (other)

Substantial dry eye requiring daily treatment

Severe light sensitivity

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

NO

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

3

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Increased safety or convenience for sports or other leisure activities
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Family, friends or acquaintances who have had laser surgery
• Online
• Other

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On a website sponsored by the clinic

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• None of these describes my preference for the clinic I chose.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

NO

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

NO

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

NO

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

NO

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

NO

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

NO

Overall experience with the CLINIC

2

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

3

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

2

Overall experience with SURGEON

1

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

1

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

1

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

1

Selected topic: Getting Treatment for Complications

Prior to the surgery at [name of clinic chain] I had a visible cold sore on my mouth, and a small blister in the corner of my eye.  My surgeon did not notice these, or point out that Herpes Simplex B is the most common cause of blindness in the USA.

5 days post surgery I started to get very blurred vision in one eye.  The continuity of care was abysmal.  I never saw the same consultant, I even had to go to different locations of the [name] clinics.  For nearly three weeks I was diagnosed with epithelial breakdown caused by excessive dryness or ulceration and all manner of other things Ð each time I saw a consultant, they disagreed with what the previous consultant said and changed the medication.  After three weeks the only person that I have any confidence in at [clinic], [name omitted], decided to send a culture off as suspected HSV virus.  I then mentioned the cold sore that I had at the time of surgery and he couldn't believe that the surgeon had operated.  He started a very aggressive treatment and we saw slow progress.  6 weeks later I felt my eyes were worsening again so went to see a consultant at Guildford to raise my concerns Ð he said all was fine and stopped all medications.  My eyes continued to worsen Ð two weeks later I went back to [name omitted], who noted the infection was back, worse than before.  He then said that whilst he personally would always be happy to see me, [clinic] were not able to support my condition as it would be long term.  He referred me to [eye hospital].  My private consultations have now cost me over £900, and the last prescription that I had to buy for more aggressive drugs was a staggering £356.00!!  It is almost a year since my operation and I am permanently partially blind in my right eye with fluctuation pain.  (once the nerves grow back properly I am assured that it will actually be really painful!)

[Clinic chain] have not responded to my complaint letters Ð in fact they recently sent me advertising material to recommend a friend!

Has the problem(s) been resolved?

NO

Did the patient get additional opinions and if so how many?

Yes, 3

Has the surgeon told the patient what caused the problem(s)?

Yes

Did the patient have risk factors s/he did not know about?

Yes, Herpes Simplex II Virus

Who took responsibility to look after the patient, examine and treat them when the problem(s) arose: the surgeon, other staff in the clinic, or neither?

Various. No continuity of care.

Surgery date(s)

February 2003

Time elapsed when survey submitted

5 months

Age at time of surgery

28

Type of surgery

LASEK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Soft contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -1.75 both eyes

Astigmatism: Yes

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

+0.25 / 0.0

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

Mild dry eye ?

Light sensitivity

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

9

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Online

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk
• On an independent web forum (other than www.surgicaleyes.org and www.lasik-eyes.co.uk)

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• I had an evaluation at more than one clinic and selected the one I thought was best based on my experience during the evaluation.
• I compared prices between clinics.
• I was looking for a very specific type of procedure or model of laser.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• My surgeon was a consultant ophthalmologist.
• My surgeon had extensive training in refractive surgery.
• My surgeon had very low complications rates.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

NO

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

5

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

5

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

5

I went to the [clinic chain] in the first place, as I was attracted by the free consultation. The consultant did not even know what LASEK was (this was in November 2002). They said I was suitable and should go for PRK and were rather pushy about making an appointment for the surgery, I received at least one phone call and letter per week from them. Further I was told that I won't get to meet the surgeon until the day of surgery. When I told them I decided to get the surgery somewhere else, because I'd rather have LASEK, they said, they could do this as well now.

But I felt very at unease with them and decided to go to [clinic]. The surgeon [name omitted] did the consultation all himself and spent about 45 min explaining the different procedures, the risks and why he recommends LASEK. Further he told me about his personal history. I felt in the best possible hands and very well informed about procedure, risks and surgeon. This view has not changed ever since (he is doing all the post-op checkÐups himself as well).

Surgery date(s)

October 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

9 months

Age at time of surgery

35

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Soft contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -2.5 both eyes

Astigmatism: No

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

Ònear perfectÓ though comments that vision is ÒdifferentÓ

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

Dry eye

Light sensitivity

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

9

Corrective lenses worn in the year prior to surgery

• Glasses
• Contact lenses (soft)

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Family, friends or acquaintances who have had laser surgery

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Family, friends or acquaintances
• Websites sponsored by other clinics or industry sources
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk
• On an independent web forum (other than www.surgicaleyes.org and www.lasik-eyes.co.uk)
• In brochures or other media produced by the clinic

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• The surgeon was recommended by an acquaintance.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

Don't remember

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

4

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

3

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

5

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

5

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

3

Glad I had the LASIK surgery.  It is great not having to fiddle around with lenses and worrying about losing them when I swim etc.  Have experienced some dryness in both eyes, and an odd sensation of air escaping through the eye when I sneeze (this one is difficult to explain).  Would recommend my surgeon and the clinic Ð although you did pay a premium for the level of service provided

Surgery date(s)

April 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

15 months

Age at time of surgery

28

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unk

One eye or both

Both eyes, same day

Correction before surgery

Contact lenses (gas permeable or hard)

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: Apprx. -6.00 in both eyes

Astigmatism: Unk

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

20/20

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported.

Adverse effects (other)

None reported.

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

10

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Increased safety or convenience for sports or other leisure activities
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Online

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Website of the clinic patient attended

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On an independent web forum (other than www.surgicaleyes.org and www.lasik-eyes.co.uk)
• On a website sponsored by the clinic
• In brochures or other media produced by the clinic.

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• I had an evaluation at more than one clinic and selected the one I thought was best based on my experience during the evaluation.
• The first clinic I went to told me I was not eligible for treatment, so I found one that agreed to treat me.
• I compared prices between clinics.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• My surgeon was a consultant ophthalmologist.
• My surgeon had extensive training in refractive surgery.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

5

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

5

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

4

Selected topic: Vision after surgery

FANTASTIC! If there is one thing I could describe as a miracle, my surgery would be it! Every aspect of the procedure was first class, I visited many different practices and eventually went to the same one as my wife.

The surgeon was great, knew his stuff, very reassuring and confident.

After the procedure my eyes needed quite a few checks and the clinic was fantastic, they left nothing to chance.

I now have perfect vision in both eyes, and one year on I still find it hard to believe that I don't have to wear glasses or bother with contact lenses.

I would certainly recommend to family and friends without hesitation.

GO ON, IT WILL BE THE BEST THING YOU EVER DID!

Surgery date(s)

April 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

15 months

Age at time of surgery

Not reported

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Bausch & Lomb (?)

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -6.0, -9.5

Astigmatism: ?

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

20/20

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

Loss of contrast

Night vision disturbance

Floaters

Adverse effects (other)

Dry eye

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

9

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Expected cost savings
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Increased safety or convenience for sports or other leisure activities
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Online

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Family, friends or acquaintances
• Website of the clinic patient attended
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• The clinic listed very low complications rates.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• My surgeon was a consultant ophthalmologist.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

NO

Night vision problems and what causes them

NO

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

NO

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

NO

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

5

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

5

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

4

Surgery date(s)

October 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

9 months

Age at time of surgery

41

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Nidek?

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Gas permeable contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -6.5

Astigmatism: Yes

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

Does not know acuity (thinks -0.25)

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

Poorer night vision

Increased floaters

Adverse effects (other)

None reported

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

9

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Expected cost savings
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Family, friends or acquaintances who have had laser surgery
• Online

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk
• On an independent web forum (other than www.surgicaleyes.org and www.lasik-eyes.co.uk)
• In news reports

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• The clinic was recommended by an acquaintance.
• I compared prices between clinics.
• The location was convenient.
• The clinic listed very low complications rates.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• My surgeon had very low complications rates.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

NO

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

5

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

5

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

5

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

5

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

5

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

5

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

1

Surgery date(s)

June 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

13 months

Age at time of surgery

34

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Soft contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Short-sighted: -4.75, -4.5

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

Nearly 20/20

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

Dry eye

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

8

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Increased safety or convenience for sports or other leisure activities
• Poor vision with contact lenses
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• Did not read about any other patients' experiences.

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• I had an evaluation at more than one clinic and selected the one I thought was best based on my
• The location was convenient.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

NO

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

YES

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

YES

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)

YES

Overall experience with the CLINIC

4

Impression of the CLINIC's quality standards

3

How CLINIC's staff responded if patient had any problems or concerns after surgery

1

Overall experience with SURGEON

5

Time SURGEON spent with patient before the day of surgery

2

SURGEON answered patient's questions prior to surgery

3

SURGEON discussed pre-operative evaluation test results with patient

4

SURGEON spent time with patient at follow-up examinations

NO/a

My one criticism is the aftercare was poor.   Patients need huge amounts of reassurance after the surgery Ð I feel I didn't receive that reassurance.

My eyes are now fine but it was certainly not a one day recovery Ð it took at least a week for the blurred vision to disappear.

My eyes are now slightly drier than before and when I am tired I must use eye drops but it's not a problem for me.

Surgery date(s)

April 2002

Time elapsed when survey submitted

15 months

Age at time of surgery

25

Type of surgery

LASIK

Laser

Unknown

One eye or both

Both

Correction before surgery

Toric contact lenses

Vision before surgery

Slightly short-sighted: -1.25

Astigmatism: High amount in right eye

Vision after surgery (acuity or prescription)

About 20/20 after a few months. Slight astigmatism in left eye.

Does patient now need glasses or contact lenses?

NO

Adverse effects (visual)

None reported

Adverse effects (other)

None reported

Did patient feel the surgery achieved his/her goal?

YES

Does patient recommend to acquaintances?

YES

Patient's rating of results (1-10, 10 is best)

10

Primary motivating factors in decision to have LVC

• Cosmetic benefits
• Convenience of not wearing glasses
• Convenience of not wearing and caring for contact lenses
• Poor vision with contact lenses
• Contact lens intolerance, discomfort or related problems (eyes dry, tired, red, sore, allergies, etc)
• Generally tired of the hassle of glasses or contacts and attracted by the idea of not needing them

Read about the benefits of LVC in...

• Advertising
• Online

Read about the risks, complications and side effects of LVC in

• Television, radio or other press reports
• Independent websites

Read about patients' experiences (good or bad)

• On www.lasik-eyes.co.uk
• On an independent web forum (other than www.surgicaleyes.org and www.lasik-eyes.co.uk)
• On a website sponsored by the clinic
• In brochures or other media produced by the clinic

How patient selected clinic and/or surgeon

• I compared prices between clinics.
• The location was convenient.
• The clinic listed very low complications rates.
• My surgeon had done thousands of procedures.
• I read good reviews or reports about the clinic or surgeon.

The following were or were not discussed with the patient during the consultation process:

How long patient could expect to be glasses-free after surgery

YES

Night vision problems and what causes them

YES

Other problems associated with laser surgery, such as double vision/ghosting and loss of contrast sensitivity

YES

Patient's pupil size at night and how it may affect the quality of the surgical result

NO

Patient's corneal thickness and what it means for eligibility for additional procedures

YES

Patient's professional vision requirements (present or future)

NO

The possibility of dry eye requiring ongoing treatment (i.e. after the healing period)