I had bilateral LASIK 10/11/01, and on post op day 1 had DLK in the right eye with vision at 20/80. Was treated with predforte Q1h, but progressed to stage 3 and had a flap lift and irrigation on post op day 5. Now, the vision in my left eye is 20/25, but right is a very blurry 20/50. More importantly to me than my far vision is that I can no longer read up close at all with my right eye uless it is a very large print (greater than 20 font) The surgeon says this is because of flap striae across my right pupil. However, he seems loathe to do a relift because he says the corneal flap is not all that healthy because of the DLK, although he says I didn't have frank flap necrosis.

I can live without the far vision in that eye if I must; however, I need binocular near vision for my job. Right now, neither my far nor near vision appears to be correctable even with refraction in the right eye. Any advice on where to go from here?

You are in a difficult situation. You should definetely get a few opinions, as wrinkles do not improve on their own. But if your flap was damaged by the DLK, then it may be difficult to lift the flap. Flap suturing may be one technique.

At this point, try to get a few opinions on what your best options are.

Best of luck

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

OK, he lifted the flap 2 weeks after the first procedure to "iron it out" and also used a hypotonice solution to plump out some of the wrinkles. Now, according to the surgeon, I only have a few microstriae and these do not cross the pupil (I have the same thing in my left eye, which is now 20/25 and great). However, I still see multiple images with the right eye, a very blurry 20/50, and can do no close up reading. My surgeon says to give it time, but I'm getting very worried. Do you know of any good lasik surgeons in the LExington, KY, Cincinatti, Louisiville area for a second opinion?