Laser eye surgery was hailed as a medical miracle when it was approved in 1999 – offering crystal-clear vision without the hassle of glasses or contacts.
But as chilling patient accounts and worrying statistics surface, doctors are warning that the procedure isn’t for everyone – and in some rare cases, it can prove deadly.
Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, ended his own life in January after suffering excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches in the five months following his LASIK operation.
Kingerski is among a growing number of Americans who have been driven to suicide due to the pain, headaches and irritability caused after undergoing LASIK surgery.
In 2018, a beloved TV meteorologist and mother-of-two killed herself after LASIK eye surgery.
At the time, she was one of 11 people known to have taken their lives after undergoing the procedure.
Dr. Emil Chynn, a leading corneal surgeon and professor at the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary, told the Daily Mail that the problem is thousands of patients aren’t being properly screened.
He recommended that those suffering from mental illness and severely dry eyes steer clear of the surgery.
In 2018, Detroit TV meteorologist Jessica Starr (pictured) hanged herself at just 35 years old , leaving behind a 30-page suicide note and videos blaming her tragic decision on LASIK
‘There are very rare reports of LASIK patients who’ve committed suicide, supposedly due to severe dry eyes,’ he said.
‘My opinion is these patients probably had concomitant mental illness, because it does not make sense to commit suicide over a treatable chronic condition.’
Ryan Kingerski, a 26-year-old officer with the Penn Hills Police Department, took his own life in January after suffering excruciating pain, double vision and persistent headaches in the five months following his LASIK operation
Every year, roughly 800,000 Americans undergo the procedure – and for most, the results are positive.
But Dr. Chynn said that key risks are often downplayed by doctors as they are very unlikely to affect a majority of patients.
One of the most common side effects is dry eye – a painful condition that can linger for months or even years after surgery.
According to a 2012 study, 95 percent of patients report some level of dryness shortly after the procedure. Around 60 percent still have symptoms a month later.
‘In the vast majority of serious cases I’ve seen,’ Dr. Chynn said, ‘patients already had dry eyes before surgery. It just wasn’t picked up – or worse, it was ignored.’
That oversight can have devastating consequences.
Dry eyes can cause burning, stinging, and blurry vision. In extreme cases, it can make working, driving, or even reading unbearable.
‘I’ve seen people deeply distressed,’ Dr. Chynn said. ‘This is an elective procedure, and they feel like it’s stolen their quality of life.’
He also believes that anyone with mental health issues should be screened and counseled before they undergo the surgery.
LASIK surgery is the one of the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems
‘I’ve seen many in my practice who are incredibly upset and distressed that this elective feature has adversely affected their ability to work or enjoy their activities of daily living,’ Chynn explained.
‘The vast majority of people who suffer from debilitating [dry eye] post-LASIK had pre-existing [dry eye] before surgery that wasn’t properly diagnosed,’ he said.
While LASIK surgery is approved by the FDA and considered safe for most candidates, the decision to move forward should come after rigorous screening.
Dr. Chynn argued that is not always happening – especially at high-volume LASIK centers that rely on general ophthalmologists instead of cornea specialists.
‘Unfortunately, most of the people who have debilitating [dry eye] post-LASIK probably got lasered by a general ophthalmologist, rather than a corneal surgeon,’ he said.
‘Cornea surgeons would perform a more thorough evaluation for [dry eye] before surgery, pick up moderate to severe [dry eye] patients and counsel such patients to have a procedure other than LASIK.’
While Dr. Chynn does not deny that LASIK can have serious side effects, he insists that most complications are preventable with proper evaluation.
LASIK is not just a bad fit for people with dry eyes. According to the Refractive Surgery Council, up to 25 percent of patients are ultimately ineligible. That includes people with:
- Thin or irregular corneas
- Autoimmune diseases
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- Certain medications that interfere with healing
Those with extremely thin corneas are asked to avoid LASIK, as there may not be enough remaining tissue to support the structure of the eye and maintain vision stability – leading to severe complications.
Similarly, individuals with autoimmune diseases or uncontrolled diabetes may not be ideal candidates for LASIK as their conditions can impair the body’s ability to heal properly, potentially leading to complications like corneal melting and dry eye.
The problem, Dr. Chynn says, is that too many LASIK providers take a one-size-fits-all approach – when the decision should be highly individualized.
According to the Refractive Surgery Council, up to 25 percent of patients wishing to get LASIK surgery are ultimately ineligible
He also emphasized that newer or less invasive procedures – such as LASEK, SMILE or ICL – are often better suited to patients who aren’t ideal LASIK candidates.
During a Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, (LASEK) procedure, a thin flap of epithelial tissue on the surface of the cornea is created using a laser.
The flap is then lifted and a laser is used to reshape the underlying corneal tissue, correcting the refractive error. The flap is then re-positioned over the eye, where it heals and covers the treated area.
Unlike LASIK, where two lasers are often use to create the flap and another to reshape the cornea, LASEK only uses a single laser.
For those with dry eyes, LASEK is significantly better than LASIK as it avoids creating a corneal flap, which can disrupt nerves and potentially worsen symptoms
Similarly in a Small Incision Lenticule Extraction (SMILE) procedure, a femtosecond laser is used to create a small incision and a lenticule (a thin, disc-shaped piece of corneal tissue). The lenticule is then removed, reshaping the cornea and improving vision
SMILE surgery also has a lower chance of worsening dryness because it involves a smaller incision, which may lead to less disruption of corneal nerves, Chynn said.
Implantable contact lenses (ICL), which isn’t as widely promoted, don’t remove any tissue at all.
A leading eye doctor emphasized that newer or less invasive procedures are often better suited to patients who aren’t ideal LASIK candidates
‘If it had been, those patients would have been counseled to get LASEK, SMILE or ICL, all of which have a much lower chance of worsening pre-existing [dry eyes] compared to LASIK,’ Chynn explained.
While some lawsuits have alleged a connection between LASIK complications and suicide, the industry maintains that there is no proven link.
One estimate placed the suicide rate among LASIK patients at seven per 100 million, or exceedingly rare.
Still, Chynn says that rare doesn’t mean irrelevant – and believes the industry should be more transparent.
‘Vision correction surgery is a choice, not a medical necessity, so it is important to partner with your surgeon to make the choices that are best for your health and vision,’ he said.
‘Ask yourself: What do you want out of a vision correction procedure? Are you active and glasses and/or contacts get in the way? Are you struggling with reading glasses? Into sports? Outdoor activities? Are you parenting young children?
‘These questions help put your vision correction goals in context of your lifestyle and open a dialog with your physician to discuss your options.’
