I've posted a few questions in the main forum. I I guess I should be over here since I have been diagnosed with DLK or SOS. I was on hourly steroid drops for like 5 days. I still have haze. They have weaned the drops (Pred Forte 1%) to QID. They claim it's "looking better". The problem is I see a different optometrist or opthalmologist every time I go. How can they track my progress? Also, is it common for DLK to hang around after over 5 days of hourly drop usage? What are the long term consequences? When can I expect it to be totally "gone". I have a foreign body sensation in my right eye, is that normal? And my vision in my left eye has regressed to 20/40 (It was initially 20/20). Can I expect my vision to improve after this DLK clears up? Would you recommend that I go to another opthalmologist for another opinion and if so do you know anyone in the Pittsburgh area whom you could recommend? I am a nurse and have missed 3 days of work because of all this mess. I just want it to be over with. I think I made a mistake by trusting the "Laser Vision Institute" with my eyes and am hoping that there are no long term adverse effects of this procedure that I will regret forever. Thank you for your time. You seem to respond to questions more than any other physician. I really appreciate your time which I know you don't have much of. Please wish me luck.

Hi Juliana,
I followed your posts here and suggest you try posting again at www.surgicaleyes.org.

I really appreciate your reply April. I am just desperate to find some clear cut answers about this and hope that I am not going to suffer permanent vision loss from this complication. God bless you!

DLK is an inflammatory response in the laser bed. We are not sure of the etiology but it is a frustrating condition that happens to all lasik surgeons. The good news is that in the vast majority of patients it resolves with topical steroids in about a week and does not effect the visual outcome. Only in rare situations , especially if not recognized does it cause severe problems requiring additional surgery. Your vision still has an excellent chance of improving over the next month or so. The foreign body sensation is probably unrelated to the DLK and probably means you need to use tears more frequently. With regards to seeing a different doctor each time, it is your right to demand to see the same doctor each visit if you feel that it is in your best interest. Hang in there and I think you will be fine.
Gerald Spindel, MD
Derry,NH

I am in the process of trying to contact the two LASIK surgeons at the Eye and Ear Institute, U. of
Pittsburgh. Dr. Deepinder Dhaliwal is a fantastic LASIK surgeon and diagnostician, and she can certainly help if she is available. Dr. Francis Mah is also on the faculty, and is very experienced with LASIK. I saw them both at a LASIK conference here in Miami in July, and they are both very experienced with handling "complications" such as DLK.
I think it is critical in a case such as you have described that the surgeon be the one to see you on a daily basis. The problem is that when you go to cheap discount LASIK centers - post-operative care can be pretty shabby (as you have described)
Here is the address and phone number for the Dr's Dhaliwal and Mah:

Eye and Ear Institute, U. of Pittsburgh
200 Lothrop St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Tel:
Fax:

I hope this is helpful

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

I am a nurse at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh which is next door to the Eye and Ear institute. I will call the physicians you recommended. I thank you for your time. God bless you!

I spoke with Dr. Mah, who is aware that you will be seeing him. He is very knowledgeable and will be very helpful for you

Best of luck

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

I wish to thank you for your response and your time. Your words have given me some encouragement! God bless you and best of luck!!

Juliana,

DLK can take some time to completely clear, depending on the stage it reached. Five days is not a long time where DLK is concerned. I really think you have received textbook treatment with the hourly medication. Steroids tend to dry your eyes, so that might explain the foreign body sensation. Doesn't sound to me like you've received shoddy treatment at all. I got much worse care from full-price doctors.

Juliana,
In Eye2Eye the case of the month is a presentation on DLK - Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis. The URL is http://216.157.75.48/eye2eye/case_of_the_month/

I hope your feeling better and I agree with your comments regarding seeing different doctors each time. It would be much better to be followed by the same doctor.