I had RK surgery about 4 years ago. I am now left with a scar over my visual axis and have extreme irregular astigmatism. I have been seeing a new doctor in a new state who thinks the resolution despite my myopia and irregular astigmatism is to undergo LASIK surgery. I am afraid to do this in a way because "the knife slipped during an enhancement" RK. However, since I presently cannot wear glasses or contacts due to the major distortion of my eye, I will pursue this surgery. The question I have is "Is the surgery safe with my situation and by the fact that I have had RK twice already?" The doctor does not know the whole situation about my eye with detail; yet he thinks Lasik will smoothe over the scar tissue on my visual axis and improve my vision without the need for contacts or glasses until I get older *reading glasses. He does not think I would be satisfied with gas perm lenses. He also wants to try this before having a corneal transplant. "What do you think is the best decision, why?"

barbee-

you obviously have a very detailed history with your eyes and it's impossible to give advice over the e mail like this.

i encourage you to get multiple opinions- when you start to get a consensus, you will know that you are nearing the right answer.

if you have useful vision out of the eye right now, i wouldn't rush to do anything. if the vision is not useful, and you are willing to try to improve it, it is possible that the laser can smooth the eye enough to allow you to wear a contact lens comfortably. and it's probably not a bad idea to at least try this prior to a corneal transplant.

good luck

debra tennen, md