Are the visual symptoms of irregular astigmatism different than flap wrinkles? Are the symptoms of glare, ghosting, halos, etc. the same? From what I have been reading, LASIK induced irregular astigmatism generally goes away while flap wrinkles do not (unless it is microstriae).

I have ghosting and glare indoors and GASH at night. I had no regular astigmatism before LASIK and now it has been fluctuating between +.75 and +1.25 in both eyes every two weeks. I am 4 months post-op.

Thanks,
Mike

You can not diagnose irregular astigmatism versus flap wrinkles based on visual symptoms, as both can cause a variey of similar symptoms. Instead, you need to find a second opinion doctor who will perform a careful exam.
Irregular astigmatism is easily picked up by a corneal topography exam, while flap wrinkles are visible on slit lamp exam.

I hope this helps answer your question

Best of luck

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dr Trattler,

Thank you so much for answering this and the other questions that I have posted.

I have had second and third opinions. I have striae in both eyes but I think it is microstriae. The 2nd opinion doctor at 5 weeks post-op did not not want to do anything about them (in one eye) because my BCVA was 20/25. The flap in the other eye was stretched. The third opinion doctor did a topography and said that the surface doesn't look terrible and should smooth out with my eyelids going over the surface. At 4 months post-op, when I am indoors with artificial light, my vision gets blurry and I get glare.

Thanks again,
Mike