G.Moore:
I will let about 200 million people cut in front of me on the eye surgeon's waiting list. Another consideration: you think Dow Corning had it rough with silicone implants? Guess what happens when some people go blind?
Your statement makes me wonder how well you understand this. I look forward to Dr. Yagoda's comments later this evening.
However, my understanding of this is that people who wear glasses can undergo radial keratotomy (slits made in the surface of the eye by a scalpel) or laser surgery. Both are geared to change the direction of light that passes thru the lens and strikes the retina. The change in direction improves visual acuity. When I had the radial keratotomy in '93, a computer mapped the surface of the eye, determined the best positions and depth for scalpel insertion, which the surgeon then performed. The scalpel is graded in hashmarks and frankly looked exceedingly easy to do, the surgery is done in a chair in the clinic, and the patient usually does very well. Nowadays, the FDA-approved surgery is done with a laser, which I suppose may be less painful and perhaps more precise.
Before getting the surgery, I was given to understand 3 things:
1. The surgery was first performed by the Japanese in the 19th century, and was done in great numbers by the Soviets in the 1970s & 80s, before re-spreading around the world
2. The results are fairly long-lasting.
3. Excellent results were likely > 90% of the time; globe rupture was rare, and surgeon dependent; but in the worst case, the patient would have to wear eyeglasses, which they already were doing. So when I did it, I figured I had little to lose and plenty to gain. I am glad I did it.
Blindness wasn't part of the equation, and to loosely suggest this is a little bit reckless, and not accurate. |
