Crohn's & Lasik?

[deathbycanon]

I was highly referred to a lasik clinic. I called the info line to make an appointment. I told the lady that I was on the phone with that I had Crohn's and the meds I was taking. She said that it would only be a problem if it affected my eyes and the Dr would do an exam. So I book the appointment and drive 6 hours to get there. I fill out the paper work and watch a movie. The nurse comes in and tells me the Dr won't even do the exam because I have Crohn's!! I told her that I told the lady on the phone I had Crohn's and she said it would depend on the exam.

This nurse goes on to tell me the Dr. will not even look at me because he is not going to do the surgery. That eye surgery could make me have a flare up! I ask her if she even knows what Crohn's is - and told her eye surgery is a lot less involved then my yearly biopsies! Then she goes to talk to the Dr and comes back and tells me if I have the surgery the laser will fry my eye and I will go blind! I knew she was feeding me a bunch of bull. I was so angry I just walked out - after telling them they could pay my gas bill that it took to drive there - a 12 hour round trip!!!!

I got back home and googled some info and found that MANY crohn's & other immune disorder patients have had lasik just fine! The biggest complaint seems to be dry eyes.

So now I want to get a list going of people with Crohn's who have had lasik. If you have had this done please post the results and the Dr's name and clinic that did the surgery. This way other people with this problem will have a resource to find good Dr's in their area.


Thanks for your help!

Deanna

 

[Jeff D.]

When I am 25 I am going to have lasik. I found out two weeks ago that I am nearsighted and have to wear glasses to see far away which pisses me off because I feel the glasses they sold me were womens glasses or reading glasses so I feel real awkward wearing them. I hope you find a new doctor for it. Good luck.

 

[ruthymg]

This is a good idea, I'm not sure what lasik is, is it laser eye correction surgery? if so I haven't had it but I do have problems with my eyes, namely longsightedness. Hope all works out for you.


Ruth

 

[Kev]

Laser eye surgery connected to Crohns??? Never heard of it, but that don't mean its not possible.. Check with your GI, GP or any local reputable eye doctor or specialist.
better to find out ahead of time IF there is a subtle link, or possible side effects, etc..

I have had laser eye surgery.. but it was before I was symptomatic or diagnosed. It came about as a result of the natural aging process.. But it wasn't straight-forward or simple. Thought I was losing my eyesight in my left eye.. Went to specialist after specialist. They all saw something, but couldn't determine if it was a malignant growth or scar tissue of some kind. Finally, after referrals up the wazoo, eye surgeon correctly determined that it was VERY old scar tissue from a childhood infection that no one probably ever noticed.. and that now that I am up in years, my eye was trying to use this area for the first time. Anyway, he then sent me to a laser specialist who could custom map my left cornea to avoid the scarred area of the retina.. Since that would have left me using either a monocle on the right eye, or out of focus depth perception, I had both eyes done at once..

It was a painless procedure, done in less than 15 minutes. I had no side effects, no follow up issues. They checked me regularly periodically over the next 12 mos.

However, I do now periodically suffer from dry eye (at least, the corners of my eyelids get so dry they crack... ) but I don't know if that's from the crohns., the lasik or both. I have no distance vision problems, and can see like a hawk. But, I still need reading glasses to see up close. I just don't need bifocals or anything.
For you young folk out there, if you think lasik or laser eye surgery means you'll never need glasses, think again. If you're lucky enuff to live long enuff, you will..

 

[TammySue62]

I too have problems with my left eye.Had to have eye surgery in 98.
They replaced my left cornea(that would be the clor of your eyeball) and a artificel(sp) lens.Had to wait 6 months for one to come available.I still have 2 stiches left in me eye. The havnt wiggled there way out yet.The viris is called iritis from having crohns and using prednisone. Dr, said I would have an 85% chance that I would see again.IT was so red an watery all the time that I couldnt see a thing.So I had to sell my car.(83 convertaqble mustang boohoo)Told me I was gonna go blind avengally. Si I had the operation.Tokk all of 45 mins. It was PAINFULL. Had to wear a patch for 6 months.Had to wear sunglasses every where even in my house. IT was black and blue as if someone sucked me one. (the one eyed pirate) ANyway was doing good for several months. I could see again. Then objects became blurry again. So it started all over again. The virus had came back with vengence. I couldnt believe it an 85 % chance well that other 15% was my eye again.
By the way the dr, that I was seeing was a specialist in eyes.He could not believe what he was seeing .He had told me that he had only seen this in books.So he called in all his co-workers to look at my eye. That was great to know no-one had this problem but me. Off I went to Toronto to see a specialist there who did this kind of surgery.There was onlly two in Canada that did this type of surgery so I was told. Had the surgery very painful came back months later had about 6 cateracts on my eye.He lazered them off.Still cant see, Now Last year he told me I have it in my right eye.Just great I have no luck at all.He said soon as my crohns settle down he will try and suck out the cateract with a needle while im a sleep.because he has to go in behind my eyeball. I do have glasses but they are usless because my eyes change everyday depends on my crohns if Im having a good day well then I can see a bit better that day.If Im having a bad crohns day well then I cant see very good. Just have to wait and see
Did anyone use drops in there eye.I think mine was called predfort.Something like prednisone but a low dose in a liquid form for your eyes.

DR. ROBERT H SINGER
Eye Physician and surgeon
720 Guelph Line Suite 309
Burlington, Ontario L7R-4E2
(905)681-3315
He is the one who told me that I had IRITIS and didnt have the right equipment too do my eye so he sent me to a top of the line (ONLY 2 IN Ontario) DR. in T.O.

TORONTO WESTERN HOSPITAL
DAVID S ROOTMAN,MD,FRCS(C)
Associate Professor of Ophtalmology
Department of Opthalmology, University of Toronto
Corneal and External Diseases. Corneal and Refractive Surgery
TORONTO WESTERN HOSPITAL
EC7-009 Bathurst Street
Toronto,Ontario M5T-2S8
(416)603-5401

Later.Anymore questions feel free to ask

 

[bayguy13]

I have had Crohn's for almost 40 years and had lasix surgery almost five years ago. If the surgeon tells your that Crohn's is an issue, go find another doctor.