RK: Ron, 40

August 17, 1999
Web posted at: 11:44 a.m. EDT (1544 GMT)

Name: Ron

Age: 40

Residence: New York

Procedure: RK

Which eyes: Both eyes. He had a correction done later called an AK. It is a lateral cut to correct an astigmatism. According to Ron, the procedure is really a corollary to RK.

Cost: The RK's cost was around $2,800. His family optometrist of 20 years co-managed the case. He recommended the surgeon. Ron said he was unaware at the time that his doctor and the surgeon had a financial business relationship.

When done: April 7, 1995

Why did you do it?

"It was represented to me as a substitute for contact lenses and glasses." At the time of the procedure, Ron was a firefighter and an aspiring actor. He felt with his active life it would make sense to be free of contacts or glasses.

He stressed that glasses and contacts never kept him from doing anything; it just seemed like RK would help him be free from a device. "I was never in any hurry to have anything done," he said.

Would you call it successful?

"Absolutely not. I was improperly evaluated, and my symptoms, which I'm contending with every waking moment, were totally avoidable if I had had a proper workup."

Ron said he experiences ghosting, primarily in low light, lack of contrast, a depth perception problem (what some call aquarium vision), halos and star bursts, and hyperopic shift, which is a gradual persistent flattening of the cornea that manifests as farsightedness.

Before the RK procedure he suffered from myopia (nearsightedness).

What was your vision before the procedure?

His eyes were -3 and -3.5, and his overall vision was 2400.

After:

He said after the procedure he was 20/20, but "a debilitating 20/20." "All 20/20 means is that you can recognize the symbols on the eye chart."

Ron pointed out that this measuring device was developed in the early 1800s and said he feels it is "preposterous that that is the way the success in the refractive surgery is measured." He called the eye chart a "crude measurement" and said it was using old modalities to evaluate new procedures.

Did this procedure meet your expectations?

"No. I expected the same vision I had with contacts or glasses." Ron said he didn't realize that surgery would do so many other things to his cornea and compromise the quality of his life to such a significant degree.

He is no longer acting or fire fighting, and he says his current vision is directly responsible for those changes in his life.

Would you do it again?

"No. I'm actively researching possible solutions, but I'm in no hurry to be the first to try them," he said.

Ron is now the founder and director of a group called Surgical Eyes. The nonprofit foundation launched a Web site in April 1999 at surgicaleyes.com.

According to Ron, the group was established to serve those who have had poor outcomes from refractive surgery. Ron said they are working to develop a referral system to provide medical, psychological and financial support for those in need. He said he hopes the group is a healing force.

Any pain?

None

How would you describe the experience?

He described his RK procedure as "fast and impersonal." It took less than five minutes. He sat in an easy chair, took some valium, was taken into the operating room and was out the door within 10 minutes after that.

What risks were you made aware of ahead of time?

Ron said he was made aware that there was a risk of all the symptoms from which he currently suffers. But he said he wasn't told that because he had large pupils he was at increased risk. He said he wasn't even aware he had large pupils until they were measured three years after the procedures.

Did you seek out the treatment, or was it suggested to you by a doctor?

The treatment was suggested by his family optometrist. Ron said he had asked about LASIK, but the doctor told him it was too new and was told RK had a proven track record.

Ron said he was not nervous before his procedure because he had complete trust in his family doctor and trusted anyone he recommended.

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