Ghosting, 4-5 Years Post Surgery

[Cactusgod]

Hey guys,

I had Lasik quite a few years ago, at least 4-5, on my right eye. After about a year (oddly enough) I started to have an issue where, if I close my left eye, my right eye sees ghosting. It's much more apparent at night, after my eye gets dried out no doubt. I also have kinda blurry vision, though my lasik surgeon said it was 20/20. It's just...not really clear at all. If I had to walk around seeing only how my right eye sees, I'd probably be miserable.

Well, after a few years, I kinda got used to it...despite it annoying me to no end. For the longest time I've had an issue with my right eye where it dries out more than the left, but finally after years it seems to have subsided, to the point where I no longer use night-time ointment (YAY!) However, after going here..http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-ghosting.htm I actually tried the trick where you poke a little pen-hole in an index card and look through it. Lo and behold....the vision clears up and the ghosting is gone O_O. According to this site, that means I have some form of astigmatism. I'm amazed because the doctors (even newer ones) continuously tell me that I have no astigmatism. I had a pretty bad astigmatism before Lasik so maybe some was left over.

I also have a wacky thing where my eyes dont really know how to work with each other, so I'm wearing glasses to correct it o_O haha. Kinda sucks but..ah well.

Now...is this ghosting fix possible by wearing glasses or contacts? I'm asking because...the woman at the desk called the doctor and asked her whether or not it was possible and she said no, yet the website seems to suggest otherwise. I'm assuming that maybe the woman didnt relay the question correctly, so I'm going to speak with the doctor personally.

Any thoughts? I'm rather hesitant to go for an evaluation to see if I can get the remaining astigmatism (assuming thats what it is) removed via lasik. My bad experience with the LOOONG term dry eye problems and my overall disgust with having the operation in the first place is making my stomach twist at the thought. I suppose if a new procedure has come out that no longer has a chance of dry eye, I might be willing to give it a whirl.

Thanks for all help

[LasikExpert]

... my lasik surgeon said it was 20/20.

You may be able to identify the familiar black on white alphabet characters with sharp edges on the 20/20 Snellen test in the controlled environment of an examination room, but that does not mean the 20/20 vision is always clear in real life.

However, after going here..http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-ghosting.htm I actually tried the trick where you poke a little pen-hole in an index card and look through it. Lo and behold....the vision clears up and the ghosting is gone O_O. According to this site, that means I have some form of astigmatism.

Astigmatism is one of the problems that can be resolved with the pinhole test, but it is not the only one. You may have dry eyes, edema, central islands, or one of a multitude of other maladies that are causing your ghosting, but all would indicate a corneal irregularity.

I also have a wacky thing where my eyes dont really know how to work with each other, so I'm wearing glasses to correct it o_O haha. Kinda sucks but..ah well.

Strabismus can also cause ghosting, however it would be ghosting with both eyes open.

Now...is this ghosting fix possible by wearing glasses or contacts? I'm asking because...the woman at the desk called the doctor and asked her whether or not it was possible and she said no, yet the website seems to suggest otherwise.

Contacts would not do anything about strabismus. Glasses can correct regular astigmatism, but not likely be able to correct other corneal irregularity. Neither contacts nor glasses can correct dry eye. It is difficult to know what corrective lenses can do without knowing the actual cause of your problems.

A second opinion from a corneal specialist may be helpful, but I suspect that a detailed conversation with your current eye doctor may be very helpful in your understanding of what the problem really is and what treatment or corrections would be appropriate.

[Cactusgod]

Hey thanks a lot.

I'm sure it probably has more to do with dry eye than anything, simply because the ghosting doesnt seem to be as potent during the early hours of the day as it is at night. In fact, I sometimes write little notes to myself to remind myself of the days where, in the morning, I have pretty ghost-free vision.

My eye doctor, over the phone, basically said that she thinks its either due to astigmatism or possibly due just to abrasions or whatever from the Lasik surgery. I havent actually ever seen a cornea specialist and I'm not sure there are any where I live, but it couldnt hurt to check.

Thanks again

[LasikExpert]

Your current doctor could probably make a referral for a corneal specialist. This is often best because follow-up care will probably be comanaged between your current doctor and the specialist.

[Cactusgod]

Sorry I never responded! Didn't see that. I'll definitely ask her if she knows of any! Thanks.