Today I returned for my 1 week post-op Lasik appointment. I was examined by two of the center's optometrists. My surgeon was not in the office to consult. First doctor noted that my left eye is showing "some" flap striae and advised that a re-float may be necessary, but he requested that the other doctor also take a look. Second doctor felt the wrinkles were minor and should be resolved thru healing process. They were very thorough and I felt more comfortable, but in retrospect I have to wonder if they were second guessing themselves. My left eye has definitely been more blurry and is still only at about 20/50 vision vs 20/30 in the right eye 7 days post op. However, my reading on the bulletin board definitely has me concerned again. Can any amount of flap wrinkles be considered "minor" and be left to heal itself?
I have already scheduled an appointment with my long time optometrist for another opinion, but I any additional advice would be welcome as I feel the clock is ticking since the Lasik center scheduled my next visit in two weeks.

Thanks

In general, flap striae do not heal themselves - so if the striae (wrinkles) are affecting your vision - they need to be fixed. The
procedure to fix flap wrinkles is usually a refloat of the flap - although sutures may be required in more difficult cases.
Time is important - the longer flap wrinkles remain, the more memory the cornea has, and thus the more difficult it is to
remove the flap wrinkles. So you should get opinions to see if they feel that the flap striae are affecting your vision. If they are affecting your vision, they in general should be fixed.
2 weeks is way too long to wait. You should be seen on a daily or every other day basis until a decision is made or until your vision improves on its own.

I wish you the best of luck, and hope this information is helpful. Please keep us posted.

Bill Trattler, MD
miami, fL