I had my LASIK procedure done on 4/24 and have had great results in my left eye (20/20) but had complications with my right eye. The doctor created a free cap in the right eye and proceeded with the laser work. Afterwards, he put a contact over the cap and told me the procedure went great and the cap will not affect the results. The next morning I got up and could see perfectly out of the left eye but my vision in the right eye was extremely blury and painful. I went to see the doctor first thing that morning. I could barely read the big E on the eye chart. The doctor took out the contact and told me that my vision would improve when the swelling in the eye diminished. I went back that afternoon for a follow up after sleeping all day and having a great deal of pain in that eye. At that time the doctor said my cornea cap had fallen out and he was unable to find it anywhere in my eye. He said that my cornea will re-grow and then he could do a "touch-up" to fix any over-correction or under-correction once the corena had grown back. I'm very worried because they are unable to correct my vision in my right eye with glasses and am having a hard time getting used to vision out of only one eye. I've also had nightmares that I will wake up and not be able to see out of my left. My questions are:

1. Have any of the doctors on this message board had experience with removing or losing a cap and what are the results of this complication?

2. Any estimates on average of how long it will take my cornea to grow back? Will it be 4 weeks or 6 months?

3. Will my vision gradually improve from the 20/400 or will it improve all at once after the cornea is completely healed?

Thanks for your time.

There are many options and considerations. It certainly is possible for someone to get pretty good vision following a lost cap, but there is a high risk of scarring of the corneal surface. You should certainly seek a second opinion from a University professor in your area if possible, and the management of your eye is very important.
There is an exciting new tool that makes flaps with a laser called the intralase. This device can acually take a donor cornea and create a new flap, which could then be sutured onto your eye. This is called a lamellar keratoplasty.
You need to get a few opinions as to how things are and what needs to be done next for your eye.
Please keep us informed as to how things are going.

Thank you

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dr Trattler,
Could you please recommend a Cornea Specialist in the Denver area for a second opinion?

thnaks.

Lance Forstot is an excellent cornea specialist, and is very knowldegeable. He is someone who I would go to if I had a question or problem following LASIK.

His website is:
http://www.corneacolorado.com