Starbursts: Anyone ever seen big ones reduced or go away?

[LasikExpert]

Then why did this supposedly reputable surgeon promise me I wouldn't have them & that I did not have any of the aforementioned risks?

I could only speculate. You need to ask the doctor and his staff directly. Only there can you find the answer.

[Anyman]

Then why did this supposedly reputable surgeon promise me I wouldn't have them & that I did not have any of the aforementioned risks?

I could only speculate. You need to ask the doctor and his staff directly. Only there can you find the answer.

I did ask them. The backtracking and track-covering was a sight to see. It is obvious I make them uncomfortable on many levels. All they had to do was level with me. Now, if I suspected outright lying, well then, we'd have a little problem....

I have not given up and will keep searching for a fix. But, if I do not then it is not appropriate for me to want them to share my pain, so to speak? Why should I alone bear this burden? I may be old fashioned, but when a man gives me his word I expect him to abide by it. Failure to do so has consequences which have yet to be determined. i am now searching for other doctors & venues to see what I can do.

[Anyman]

I saw the doctor again. He has no idea why I have the starbursts almost 5 months out & is visibly frustrated. He knows I shall not let this issue go & rely on the "you broke it, you fix it" code of ethics. He is quite concerned with my familiarity with legal issues as well. He knows I have the resources to unleash should this not get solved.

I don't want it to get to that or worse, but I need options. I need a way to get things better. He has no clue & outright suggested that I get 2nd & 3rd opinions. The problem is, of course, who do I trust? I got burned once from a so called good surgeon & am now paying the price. I had to listen patiently to his uncertainty while I was boiling inside.

Where do I find ways to fix this, assuming it is even remotely fixable? Who does one trust when they all seem in cahoots? The last thing I want is to make it worse still......

[LasikExpert]

If you would like to contact me directly, we can discuss second opinion options.

[Anyman]

I would welcome input. What is the best way to contact?

[LasikExpert]

glenn dot hagele at usaeyes dot org

[Anyman]

No improvement. None. Zero. Zilch.

Looking into other options, but so far none are panning out. Seems I was never really a good candidate, despite what I now feel were lies to the contrary. Still seeing if there is a contact lens way to help, but so far no good. Alphagan P helps somewhat, but I cannot see using it more than rarely. Various specialists are not able to help. Seems there are HOAs and my 7mm+ pupil is a factor, again despite misstatements to the contrary. Legal options and more are now being more strongly considered. Perhaps the good doctor would like to experience them himself.

[LasikExpert]

Lasik related starbursts tend to relate more to a rough corneal surface, often related to dry eye issues. Halos tend to relate to pupils that are larger than the fully corrected area of the cornea, allowing light passing through the transition zone from full correction to no correction to reach the retina and be "seen". This light is undercorrected.

Properly fitted contact lenses may help both symptoms. Contacts can help starbursts because they can smooth an irregular surface (although dry eye can still be an issue) and they can help with halos by fully correcting the transition zone.

[Anyman]

Your theory makes some sense, but what I cannot follow is why I have it. Aren't these wonderful lasers supposed to NOT do that? Also, if pupil size isn't as much of a factor then why do pupil reducing drops like alphagan make a difference?

Other than contact lenses, which lasik was supposed to make unnecessary, what else is there? I've heard of topographical lasers in Europe, but what the reviews I've read are mixed. I'd like a fix, but don't trust them anymore.

I remain upset with my doctor and need for redress, as I cannot and will not let this go. It would be most unjust for me to go through the rest of my wife with nasty starbursts and he with my money and night vision. These starbursts were not part of the deal.

[LasikExpert]

Your theory makes some sense, but what I cannot follow is why I have it. Aren't these wonderful lasers supposed to NOT do that?

Different people react differently to the same surgery. Although the majority of Lasik patients may be satisified with their results, that is of little consolation to the minority with problems.

Also, if pupil size isn't as much of a factor then why do pupil reducing drops like alphagan make a difference?

Likely for two reasons. One is that the total amount of light entering the eye is reduced with a smaller pupil, and the other is that the center of the cornea may be smoother and thereby less affected.

Other than contact lenses, which lasik was supposed to make unnecessary, what else is there? I've heard of topographical lasers in Europe, but what the reviews I've read are mixed. I'd like a fix, but don't trust them anymore.

The best fix depends totally upon what needs to be fixed. If your problem is a rough surface, then laser is not likely to help but contacts may work very well. If the problem is dry eye, then neither laser nor contacts would be helpful, but supplements, artificial tears, and other dry eye treatment may be helpful.

I remain upset with my doctor and need for redress, as I cannot and will not let this go. It would be most unjust for me to go through the rest of my wife with nasty starbursts and he with my money and night vision. These starbursts were not part of the deal.

You would need to seek legal advice in this regard.

[Anyman]

Assuming that irregular surfacing is an issue/cause, why would I have such? Why would one person have it and not another? Also, what about the topographical lasers I hear about in Europe? Might such reduce HOAs via topographical smoothing of the corneal surface? Just a thought....

[LasikExpert]

Assuming that irregular surfacing is an issue/cause, why would I have such? Why would one person have it and not another?

Possibly hydration. A laser is just light and laser on moist corneal tissue will have a different effect than laser on dry tissue. Dry tissue ablates more than moist. If your corneas have an unusual hydration, roughness can occur. It is possible that your corneas were fine and the laser malfunctioned, but that is exceedingly rare.

Also, what about the topographical lasers I hear about in Europe? Might such reduce HOAs via topographical smoothing of the corneal surface? Just a thought....

Topography guided lasers are helpful only if the problem is topographical and in an amount that can be contoured by a laser. In general, roughness of ablation is not something that can be resolved with a topographical laser.

Has your doctor diagnosed dry eyes?

[Anyman]

The Dr claims dry eye is not a concern for me and, in all fairness, I don't seem to notice it except later at night on occasion.

I am indeed at a loss here. It was a serious error for him to "promise" me this wouldn't happen. I cannot recall being so angry about anything else in my life and struggle to find a fix or cure. He knew how much I feared any kind of night vision disturbance, yet promised me I wouldn't have them. I think he needs to get them himself and see how he likes it.

One specialist did think the topographical laser might help, but 1) its not here and 2) there is no way I'd go near it w/o it first having a loooong track record.

Soft lenses help a little. One brand of hard lenses induced weird starbursts of a totally different type & caused nasty post removal blurring. I am scheduled to try others, but am not exactly hopeful.

[ma098568]

i dont think they know with much certainty what causes starbursts. I have them 1 month out (they havent changed from day 1), and my regular eye doc says its probably some irregularity in the eye that we cant see.

[Anyman]

Any luck in dealing with them? I find them oppressive. Tried many types of contacts and still no luck. Got a few more to try, although some helped a little.

You're only one month out, so perhaps there is hope for you.