It seems when you go to bulletin boards all you hear from are desperate people trying to find answers. Makes sense because who would even search for info about starbursts if they didn't have a problem. I'd like to have solid statistics that explain how often the starbursts disappear with time and how long it takes.

I already found this from Uncle Sam's FTC site :

"The following side effects are possible, but usually disappear over time. In rare situations, they may be permanent.

Discomfort or pain
Hazy or blurry vision
Scratchiness
Dryness
Glare
Haloes or starbursts around lights
Light sensitivity
Small pink or red patches on the white of the eye "

It states 'rare' situations. My father's starbursts went away after a 'touch up'. I just had LASIK 4 days ago and am very happy with the results minus the starbursts. I know it is too soon to know what is up, but I would like to see some real numbers. Thanks!

I have been studying starbursts after LASIK with a device called the Larson Glarometer.
Can you please provide me:

1. Preop level of myopia and astigmatism
2. Preop pupil size
3. laser used
4. Did you have custom laser?
5. Date of surgery

I will be happy to make some comments on starburst after LASIK once you provide this information

Best regards

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

I think my starbursts may have already gotten smaller! Here is my information:

1. Preop level of myopia and astigmatism

I don't recall the astigmatism. I'll ask during my next follow-up.

-4.25
-4.75

2. Preop pupil size

7.5mm?

I expressed concern about the size and they measured twice(maybe three times) just for me. The last time using the dilating drops. If I remember correctly it was 7.5mm

3. laser used

VISX S4

4. Did you have custom laser?

Yes, I had WAVESCAN CustomVue

5. Date of surgery

Just a few days ago.
10/24/05

Sorry can help to Ramble. You can skip the rest if you want. I am still VERY curious about the statistics with the disappearance of starbursts. Thanks.

The surgeon told me there isn't a real direct correlation to the halos and starbursts with large pupil size. I have found information verifying this statement as well. He also stated that HALO's may be caused by an abrupt change in the surface of the cornea where the ablated part meets the untreated part(verified this info as well). He reassured me that the ablation was going to be around 8.5mm or so total(optical ~6mm) and that the VISX S4 laser does a much better job than previous lasers at blending.

The Success I have had so far :

Straight out of surgery I tested at 20/15 to my surprise. I printed out some EYE Charts to test my accuity with at home(verified the size of the letters was correct as well). I can determine most of the letters on the 20/10 line(yes, 20 feet away, mistook P for an F) I think that is fantastic. I also checked my near sight vision with the appropriate chart and can read all of the letters on that chart(16 inches away). If the starbursts go away I will have zero to complain about and everything to rave about. I have to admit it is a struggle to read the 20/10 line(so incredibly small even though it seems clear), but 20/13 is a piece of cake. It is so wonderful. With glasses I could barely get most of the 20/20 line.

PLEASE GO AWAY YOU NASTY STARBURSTS!

That is impressive! my BCVA is even worse at 20/30, I can kinda see/guess some of the 20/25 line though. Our glasses minify, making some lines too small to see. Have you gotten a topography to see if any residual abberations could be the cause of this? If not then you may still be healing. I hope your night vision is as good as your day :)

i have the same problem i had my surgery done on october 7 my vision was -2.5 pupil size 6.5 and i had the custom lasik done. after surgery the next day my visions was 20/20 right eye 20/25 left eye

Dr.Trattler would you able to provide me with more informations on starburst and what can i do?

Thank you,

Regina

I have been studying starbursts after LASIK
>with a device called the Larson
>Glarometer.Can you please provide me:

>1. Preop level of myopia and astigmatism2.
>Preop pupil size3. laser used4. Did
>you have custom laser?5. Date of
>surgery

>I will be happy to make some
>comments on starburst after LASIK once
>you provide this information

>Best regards

>Bill Trattler, MDMiami, FL

Dr. Trattler,

I'd also really appreciate your comments on starburst after LASIK since halos and starbursts have been a major concern for me. Here is my info:

1. Preop level of myopia and astigmatism

OD -4.00 +2.00 X 95
OS -5.25 +1.50 X 75

2. Preop pupil size

Some confusion here; I've had measurements from 6.0 mm to 7.5 mm. The one used for my surgery was 6.0 mm but I don't recall under what circumstances it was taken. Perhaps you could give me the statistics for both?

3. laser used

LADARVISION 4000

4. Did you have custom laser?

Custom on my left eye, conventional on my right

5. Date of surgery

6/24/05

Thanks so much.

>I have been studying starbursts after LASIK
>with a device called the Larson
>Glarometer.Can you please provide me:

>1. Preop level of myopia and astigmatism2.
>Preop pupil size3. laser used4. Did
>you have custom laser?5. Date of
>surgery

>I will be happy to make some
>comments on starburst after LASIK once
>you provide this information

>Best regards

>Bill Trattler, MDMiami, FL

You are getting the latest informaion from Dr. Trattler as he has just finished a study on starbursts related to pupil size with both custom and non custom surgery.
Dr. Salz

Just out of curiosity: Did you get your surgery in the 3-cities?

If so, which clinic & doctor?

I had glare and starbursts which were VERY noticeable for the first couple of weeks after Lasik...I was nervous at the time since I was wondering if it would ever go away (couldn't help worrying hehe)...now it's almost 2 months later, and it HAS completely gone away...so hopefully you will have the same good fortune...

Dallin,
Sounds like you have an outcome most lasik patients dream about. Question the starbursts at a couple months out..not 1 week. :)

Ace - I have an appointment tomorrow for a check up to see how things are going. I will try to ask the doc about the topography.

Bob - Yes, I did have it done in the Tri-Cities. I was very happy with how I was treated. Dr. King at 'Clearly LASIK' did the work. The sedative could have been stronger. I was still a little... NERVOUS! CustomVue with lifetime enhancements and punctal plugs - $3600. I think that was a bargain, plus 0 down 0 interest financing. The prices vary with prescription and machine/system you choose. I lost my price sheet, but price really shouldn't be a factor anyway. My parents went to a doctor that bad-mouthed Dr. King and said he did bad work. BAH! To me that is a red flag for a struggling business that has to resort to scare tactics. My results were far better than my parents, but there is the age factor and just plain dumb luck too. Dr. King even told me that in rare instances you do exactly what your supposed to and for some reason it doesn't turn out like it should. He seems to be very confident in the CustomVue system and is very happy with the results he gets from it. After reading that it uses the Fourier algorhythm I was hooked. If your considering it look that up and you'll see why I was excited.

S, Thank you so much. The starbursts have gone down a bit, but have seemed to have stopped diminishing as fast. I'll look forward to what happens in the next few months. Thank You so much for your input. It really helps. REALLY helps.

Richard, Thanks.

Regina, lets keep this information going so people can see what happens. So many people forget to give updates and all you see are horror stories and not the success stories on forums.

*****UPDATE*****
Still have starbursts, though significanly smaller, but improvement has seemed to almost stop. Eyes get a little blurry from time to time and a little cloudy. Usually will clear up if I blink hard and/or open my eyes really wide. Seems to have something to do with my eyelids. If I cover one eye with my hand I see clear, but if I close one eye it goes blurry!?! No clue what that is about, but I think I had this even before surgery so I can't blame it on anything. Perahps a little nip and tuck on the eyelids? There is some minor pain toward the end of the day. Perhaps it is from the long hours in front of the TV or computer monitor without my sunglasses on. Maybe I should put them back on.

I have coupons for $100 off they gave me to give my family/friends that are interested. Just let me know if you want one. Who knows, maybe you can find them in the paper. $100 off doesn't seem like a ton, but it is still $100. Anyway, I have 4 of them.

Also, they did offer me $500 off if I would fill in for someone that canceled. Unfortunately they called me when I had my contacts in so I couldn't accept :( That may be an option you may also want to check into.

today is a month since i have my surgery each day my eyes are getting better. i still have have the starbursts but i see they are starting to go away , i think my eyes are just healing slower. i have my next check up on friday nov 11 i would let you know what my docotr says.

>Ace - I have an appointment tomorrow
>for a check up to see
>how things are going. I will
>try to ask the doc about
>the topography.

>Bob - Yes, I did have it
>done in the Tri-Cities. I was
>very happy with how I was
>treated. Dr. King at 'Clearly LASIK'
>did the work. The sedative could
>have been stronger. I was still
>a little... NERVOUS! CustomVue with lifetime
>enhancements and punctal plugs - $3600.
>I think that was a bargain,
>plus 0 down 0 interest financing.
>The prices vary with prescription and
>machine/system you choose. I lost my
>price sheet, but price really shouldn't
>be a factor anyway. My parents
>went to a doctor that bad-mouthed
>Dr. King and said he did
>bad work. BAH! To me that
>is a red flag for a
>struggling business that has to resort
>to scare tactics. My results were
>far better than my parents, but
>there is the age factor and
>just plain dumb luck too. Dr.
>King even told me that in
>rare instances you do exactly what
>your supposed to and for some
>reason it doesn't turn out like
>it should. He seems to be
>very confident in the CustomVue system
>and is very happy with the
>results he gets from it. After
>reading that it uses the Fourier
>algorhythm I was hooked. If your
>considering it look that up and
>you'll see why I was excited.
>

>S, Thank you so much. The starbursts
>have gone down a bit, but
>have seemed to have stopped diminishing
>as fast. I'll look forward to
>what happens in the next few
>months. Thank You so much for
>your input. It really helps. REALLY
>helps.

>Richard, Thanks.

>Regina, lets keep this information going so
>people can see what happens. So
>many people forget to give updates
>and all you see are horror
>stories and not the success stories
>on forums.

>*****UPDATE***** Still have starbursts, though significanly smaller,
>but improvement has seemed to almost
>stop. Eyes get a little blurry
>from time to time and a
>little cloudy. Usually will clear up
>if I blink hard and/or open
>my eyes really wide. Seems to
>have something to do with my
>eyelids. If I cover one eye
>with my hand I see clear,
>but if I close one eye
>it goes blurry!?! No clue what
>that is about, but I think
>I had this even before surgery
>so I can't blame it on
>anything. Perahps a little nip and
>tuck on the eyelids? There is
>some minor pain toward the end
>of the day. Perhaps it is
>from the long hours in front
>of the TV or computer monitor
>without my sunglasses on. Maybe I
>should put them back on.

i had my doc visit today and she said that my vision got better. as far as the night vision it might get better but normally its suppose to settle in the first month. i just might be the small precentage of people that get the halos and wont go away. she told me if it bothers me so much i could get glasses for night time driving with ar coding i dont need perscription.

i would keep you updates if my night vision gets any better.

I still have what I would consider significant starburts at 48 days post surgery. I found on the FDA site that you should EXPECT to have these problems for four weeks(28 days) post surgery. No one told me that.

My latest follow-up appointment I was able to read only one character off of the 20/10 line and got it very quickly. The letter 'T' is an easy one.

I still remain optimistic about my night time vision improving, but for right now it is a nuissance. If I had the option to give away some of my daytime accuity to get it to go away I would. However I found this from the FDA as well:

"It is important to realize that although distance vision may improve after re-operation, it is unlikely that other visual symptoms such as glare or haloes will improve."

The comment by the FDA is based on old technology. Wavefront-guided treatments can address the aberrations causing your night vision complaint and reduce the severity of the aberrations. Of course - over time, your vision may improve and your starbursting may improve as well.
I hope this helps

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

>The comment by the FDA is based
>on old technology. Wavefront-guided treatments
>can address the aberrations causing your
>night vision complaint and reduce the
>severity of the aberrations. Of
>course - over time, your vision
>may improve and your starbursting may
>improve as well. I hope
>this helps

> Bill Trattler, MD Miami,
>FL

I have been investigating having my eyes done and was wondering if anyone knows if there is any documented improvement with night vision (including star bursts) with the IntraLase laser making the surgical flap?

There are no studies to support better night vision with an intralase flap compared to a regular LASIK flap. We have a study suggesting less night vision issues with surface ablation compared to LASIK - and out statistician is analyzing our results further. So treatment with surface ablation may be helpful.
As well - wavefront-guided treatments (like VISX Customvue) provide better night quality of vision compared to VISX standard treatments.

I hope this helps

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL