Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 exptools 1/6/84; site ihuxj.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!we13!ihnp4!ihuxj!gek
From: gek@ihuxj.UUCP (glenn kapetansky)
Newsgroups: net.med
Subject: Re: Surgery to Correct Vision
Message-ID: <483@ihuxj.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 30-Apr-84 20:01:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxj.483
Posted: Mon Apr 30 20:01:11 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 1-May-84 19:03:40 EDT
References: <107@loral.UUCP>, <616@ariel.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
Lines: 28

OK, I posted an answer to this question months ago, and I feel 
obligated to do so again. Keratotomies (sp?) are DANGEROUS!
The Russians first promulgated the technique, using 15 or more
slashes in their typically crude way.  They didn't do any long
term studies, no followup, CERTAINLY no report of failures.
American doctors picked up the technique, and now use far
fewer slashes (down to 8, last I heard). This is important,
because the cornea is pulled into its new shape by the scar
tissue in these (radial) cuts. But scar tissue isn't transparent,
so incident light can be refracted by the scars internally across
the entire cornea.  This means that drivers at night will
suffer flashes across their entire field of vision due to 
oncoming headlights.  Ycch, I say. I LIKE to drive at night!

Hmmm. So you say maybe it's still worth it, if it works, to
finally be rid of your glasses. Sorry.  You see, the correction
is unpredictable. I (with my 20/800 vision) may get to 20/200,
you (with your 20/200) may only get to 20/100. Or I may end
up better than you. For a while, that is. Because, my son
(says my father, who's a specialist in matters ocular), after
about 10 years the cornea tends to revert to its original
shape.  This leaves you with poor vision AND scars. Double ycch!
-- 
glenn kapetansky                                                      
                                                                        
                  "If I only had a brain"                               
                                                                        
...ihnp4!ihu1j!gek