I had single eye Lasik on my left eye on July 8, 2006. The Lasik on the left eye was to take the eye from +2 in hyperopia to plano. The left eye had been Lasiked initally back in 1997 from +4.0 to plano but it had regressed. The reason I did the Lasik on the left eye was because the right eye had suffered a decentration in the 1997 procedure and is now myopic and blurry. Using glasses had become impossible and was causing nausea etc. So I was trying to get the left eye to come back around to a power that matched the right eye. Now I have constant nausea and dizziness and need some relief. I have read alot about this problem and it looks like a classic case of aniseikonia or related conditions. I am off to see my Lasik Doctor next week and am wondering what can be done to get me some relief. Should I consider an enhancement? It has been about 7 weeks since the surgery. Should I consider other options? Thank you.

For those who don’t know, we have an article about aniseikonia and Lasik at http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-aniseikonia.htm

An option that may be appropriate is the use of contact lenses to balance the images between both eyes. Enhancement may be appropriate, but regression after hyperopic (farsighted, longsighted) surgery is common and you would not want to have surgery for a transient condition. You will need to wait probably 3-6 months before more surgery.

If you keep one eye closed or patched, the nausea should dissipate quickly. This obviously will not be adequate long-term, but it may get you through some rough times.

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.

Glenn, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It means a lot to me. This is a tough time. The nasuea and dizziness are beginnig to grind me down. Would you know or have you heard cases of Aniseikonia going away over time? Can the brain eventually adjust to this situtaion? And as far as the contact, I am 7 weeks out of Lasik. Could I wear one now? Also, I have read about a test for aniseikonia, and through this test they can tell the percentage difference in the eye size etc...and prescribe glasses or contacts. Doees this work and is it something I sould do? Glenn, again, many many thanks. Jeff

I’m glad to be of whatever help I am able, Jeff.

Often the brain will adjust to the situation, but hopefully that will not be a requirement. At seven weeks postop a contact lens will probably be okay, but you need to ask your surgeon and this is the doctor who would probably be best to prescribe a contact lens for you. Do keep in mind that it is the size of the image at the retina that is different, not your eyes. Your eyes are still pretty much the same.

Recently we worked with a person who had severe aniseikonia with all the symptoms but it was not diagnosed for about eight months. We got him to a great doctor who determined the problem and fitted him with contacts. Within minutes the symptoms dissipated and within hours they were gone. Glasses didn’t do it; it was contacts that were necessary.

Over the years we have been contacted by many people who had symptoms of aniseikonia (without diagnosis) that cleared as their vision settled down. There is every reason to believe that your symptoms will resolve with healing, contacts, or additional treatment.

Expect to be anxious about this. Expect to be beating yourself up about having an elective surgery that is now giving you trouble. Expect to be angry. Angry at your doctors, yourself, just about anything. These are all reasonable emotions in a rather stressful time, but don’t let them get away from you. Too much anxiety can lead you to poor decisions and it appears that you have several options available to you. Considering the success rate of Lasik, there is no reason to beat yourself up about making the decision to have surgery. Second guessing yourself now will do you little good and can contribute to the stress. Remember that this is something that should be able to be improved. You are still early in the healing period.

Your words are very comforting and much appreciated. My doctor lives on teh other side of the world so I fly off feeling much better about what you have said. I may in the end be looking for doctors who can help work with me on this depending what my current surgeon feels like doing. And I may ask you for name or two. I am ready to do this one day at a time. Some moments are better than others. BTW, can contacts be fitted that change to size of teh image the retina receives? never heard of that...but I guess I would not have. Thankyou so much. Jeff

Glenn and others...I just returned from my visit to Lasik doctor. His diagnosis is that he does not think I am suffering from ainiseikonia. He tested me with the red/green glasses and the image size testing and he said my size differential was 1 percent or less. (is there a better way to test for this problem?) Anyway, he has prescribed distance glasses as a first step to help with my new aastigatism to see if that helps. He has also given me some contacts to "turn off" the Lasiked eye to see if that does anything. The doctor is committed to helping me and seemed sincere in his desire to see me through this. Still I feel like I need to reach out. Should I continue to try and get more advanced testing for aniseikonia? My symptoms are still serious and debilitating nausea and extreme dizziness and disorientation. And the severe fatigue takes me down eveery day. How awful. I will keep you posted on how the glasses and contacts go. Any thoughts and thanks in advance. Jeff

Since the image sizes seem equal, it would appear that it is only the difference in refractive error that is causing the problem. This should be fully resolved with contacts, and possibly with glasses.

Let us know how you do.

Thank you for your words of advice. One concern - teh aniseikonia test my doctor administered was a very quick red/greeen glasses thing. Is this right? All I did was comment on sizes of some shapes in red and green. To me tit all seemed the same and I said so. The whole thing was over in about 45 seconds. My vision right now as tested just a few days ago is at about plano in right and -.75 in left. Quite similar. So where is the difference that causes these massive problems? I will go back to teh Doctor in September and he has vowed to help me...but I am wondering if I should not go directly to a specialist (if there is one) in this field. Also, I am now more than 2 months out...is it too early to seek more help or try new things? This is awful.

From what you say, it does not appear that you are suffering from aniseikonia. An anisometropia of significantly more than 0.75 D is required to induce aniseikonia (usually close to 2.0 D or more is required). Also the fact that both eyes are seeing very similar sized images would seem to rule out aniseikonia.* Assuming your symptoms are related to your recent LASIK surgery (which may not be the case), it is possible that LASIK has exacerbated a pre-existing latent or subclinical eso- or exophoria. This could definitely result is symptoms similar to what you describe, and is something you may wish to check out with your doctor.

Bryce Carlson

* Also, since red and green cones reside at different depths within the retina, testing for perceptions based on these two colors can indicate if an eye is myopic or hyperopic.

Thanks for your input. I am not sure what to make of my current situation. I think you may be on to something though and your note has caused me to re-look what may be happening. Can you tell me if the condition you mention is treatable and how it is treated? Also, I am looking for an anti-nausea medicine and other ways to treat my condition. Also, it seems as though I will have to move out of the care of my lasik doc and move on to a doc who can look at my eyes more comprehensively. Right now I think everyone is just hoping this all goes away.....but there are no signs it will. Does anyone/do you have a suggestion for eye docs or eye clinics? This is such a difficult and draining time and I appreciate any other assistance you may offer. Many many thanks. jeff

Jeff,

If you look at the doctor directory of this website you will see Barrie Soloway, MD, FACS is listed. This doctor is also certified by our organization. I recommend that you contact his office.

Did you try patching one eye? Did it provide any improvement?

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.

I will be contacting the doctor you recommend. I am now trying all other things before I go...patching the eye, glasses, a contact over one of the eyes (to turn it off) and whatever else my Lasik doctor can think of. If you ahve any other thoughts please do let me know. You have been very kind to be so helpful here. BTW, what do you think of the Doehny Eye Center? I am told I should go see them there. Stay well. Jeff

That is Doheny Eye Center in LA

Our organization has not evaluated the doctors at that clinic, so I have no opinion on them. Perhaps others will reply.

Glenn Hagele
http://USAEyes.org
Lasik Patient Advocacy & Surgeon Certification

I am not a doctor.