I had LASIK nine months ago on both my right and left eye (with the Summit Apex+).

My vision in my left eye has been blurry from the start. I had a central island in that eye that has resolved but my vision remains a very blurry 20/60. My surgeon now says that the problem is small wrinkles in the flap of my cornea. He says it is now to late to do anything about it.

I have tried a wide range of gas-permeable contacts as well as Softperms and soft lens. I can't find anything that fits my cornea correctly. The optometrist I went to said there is nothing else left to try.

My vision in my right eye is a weak 20/30.

Is there anything else I can try? Are there any treatments for irregular astigmatism that may be available in the near future? I know most people have great results with LASIK, but for me it has been the worst decision I have ever made.

Thanks for any suggestions you might have.

If you have striae in your flap that are causing decreased vision, there is a treatment that some LASIK surgeons know how to perform. It involves lifting the flap and refloating the flap. Some doctors will use hypotonic saline to make the flap swell (to get rid of the striae), and as the flap thins the striae will sometimes resolve.
You can discuss this with your doctor or try a second opinion. Please let ius know how things turn out for you.

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dear Carrie,

I would think it is worth attempting to lift the flap at this time. There was a report demonstrating late lifting of the flap and irrigation with isotonic saline eliminated some of the folds. To wait longer can only make a bad situation permanent.

Joel H. Goffman, M.D.

Carrie,
I am not a doctor, but a patient that had severe flap complications due to my doctor's negigence. I have written about it previously on this board.
I want you to be aware of one other possibility for your striae, depending of the severity and how much corneal thickness you still have.
Dr. Chayet, in Mexico, felt that the only answer for me was to do PTK/PRK and completely remove the flap with the laser. It has left me with a very rough surface, and hyperopia, but I had no other choice for my condition. He will probably do the same surgery once more, to smooth the corneal surface, although I am getting more and more information on topolink, which I think might work for me.
I just wanted you to know that if it becomes impossible to lift the flap, or if you don't get good results, that there is another (albeit not easy) option.
Ruth