Refractive Surgery News

Dr. Nicholas Caro Sued for Medical Malpractice by "R.C"

Plaintiff alleged that during her treatment consisting of multiple refractive surgeries to both eyes at St. George Corrective Vision Center between August of 1993 and September of 1997, Dr. Nicholas Caro and/or other personnel affiliated with him, among other things, performed two surgeries that have a well known poor success rate (hexagonal keratotomy and/or automated lamellar keratoplasty), failed to properly inform her about the experimental nature of each surgery performed which ultimately necessitated corneal transplantation, and also didn't inform her that an excimer laser, apparently manufactured by PDI Laser, was not approved by the FDA and that the FDA had denied Dr. Caro's application to use it, and went ahead and used it on her anyway.
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STAAR Surgical Company Claims Implantable Contact Lenses Safer than Lasik

Ophthalmics device company reports 99.4% patient satisfaction STAAR Surgical Company (STAA) reported that the July/August 2003 edition of the Journal of Refractive Surgery has published the findings of a study comparing the retinal image quality and postoperative aberrations of patients of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with patients that were implanted with STAAR's ICL. The article entitled "Image Quality in Myopic Eyes Corrected with Laser in situ Keratomileusis and Phakic Intraocular Lens" authored by Edwin J. Sarver, PhD, Donald R....
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British Goverment Declares War on "Laser Center Cowboys"

By Keith Gladdis News Group Newspapers LTD The News of the World LASER eye clinics face tough new regulations to protect patients from rogue medics. More than 100,000 Brits ditch their glasses and contact lenses every year in favour of laser eye surgery. And a host of celebrities have undergone treatment, including Cilla Black, Spice Girl Mel B, Nicole Kidman and Brad Pitt. But the Consumers Association has warned that many patients are "gambling with their eyesight" because the industry...
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Dr. Douglas Koch Condemns Irresponsible Advertising

LASIK reporting: preserving our responsibility to our patients Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery Volume 29, Issue 8 , August 2003, Pages 1463-1464 Article Outline Price Eligibility Outcome Fear Advertising has become standard practice in health care. For better, and often for worse, ophthalmologists appear to be taking the lead in advertising dollars spent and, more regrettably, in the potentially harmful nature of the ads. At risk are the respect of our colleagues, the size of malpractice awards (Richard L....
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Serial Surgeon Sued for Performing 20 Unnecessary Surgeries

Judge Tepper Sues Eye Doctor St. Petersburg Times Pasco-Pinellas Circuit Judge Lynn Tepper has filed a lawsuit against a doctor and his office over an eye operation that she says led to more than 20 unnecessary surgeries and damaged vision in her right eye. Tepper, 51, who presides over civil matters at the Dade City courthouse, had dedicated herself to the family court system for years until her eyesight and the need for more operations forced her to move to...
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Surgeons Discover that Cornea Flaps Never Fully Reattach

To Lift or Recut: Changing trends in LASIK enhancement Roy S. Rubinfeld, MD, David R. Hardten, MD, Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, Raymond M. Stein, MD, Douglas D. Koch, MD, Mark G. Speaker, MD, PhD, Joseph Frucht-Pery, MD, Anthony J. Kameen, MD, Gerald J. Negvesky, MD Purpose:  To report serious complications caused by recutting laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) flaps for enhancement and reconsider the current preferred method of LASIK enhancement. Setting: Multiple surgeon practices. Methods:  This retrospective noncomparative nonconsecutive...
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Pilot Crashes Into Hospital Emergency Room After Undergoing Lasik

Airline pilots should stop and think before even considering LASIK for vision problems By Capt. Jolanda Witvliet (United) Air Line Pilot, August 2003, p.27 I was like a lot of pilots, tired of wearing contact lenses and ready for a fix. I looked into a variety of eye surgeries and rejected all of them except laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK). I am sure that almost every one has heard of LASIK and has read the advertisements in the newspaper: Have...
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