It was the year 1999. I was so excited to hear about a new FDA approved technique introduced into the State of Washington called Lasik Eye Surgery. For many years I had read and heard of the procedure for people with near sightedness. I became very excited just at the thought of not having to wear glasses! It was hard to perceive of this as I had worn glasses since the age of 10. I imagined waking up during the night and actually seeing the clock. I imagined simply being able to see when I opened my eyes in the morning. It gave me a thrill as I couldn’t remember ever being able to do any of these things.

After doing much research on the internet I had decided that it was a good idea for me to receive the corrective surgery in Canada instead of the United States. Since they had been doing the procedure in Canada for many years, I came to the conclusion they were the ”experts” with the state-of-the-art technology. The doctors in Washington, on the other hand, had just recently begun doing the procedure.

After many hours of internet research weighing out the pros and cons I decided I would have the procedure done at a clinic in Vancouver Canada that allowed me to have all of the pre and post opt work done in Bellevue, WA. I (my Mother and Aunt) would only be in Vancouver for the procedure and one follow up visit the next day. Simple and convenient enough. The price was less then half of what I would have pay for the procedure in WA at the time and I was quite excited. I was getting the procedure done by experts at half price!

The surgery was uneventful as well as the post op appointment the next day. I returned home the following morning. When I walked into my home, I noticed something strange. My vision seemed fuzzy the instant I walked from the sunny outdoors to the inside of my house. This sensation became constant when my eyes transitioned from light environments to dark and vice versa. Several weeks later I noticed that I was not seeing things on TV as clear as I had before. Two months after the surgery, I traveled over the mountains with my family. I kept asking my husband if he could see and he kept responding that he could. I said “you’re lucky I’m not driving because I can’t see at all.” This was the first time that I was out of my familiar surroundings and I realized I truly could not see properly.

In the next two years to follow, although I made many attempts to have it corrected, my sight seemed to worsen daily. Simple lights became extremely large like blinding flood lights with halos around them that seemed to go on forever. Figures in the dark came and went as ghosts in a science fiction movie. I was no longer able to do the things that I most enjoyed (let alone the daily necessities). Not being able to watch my boys play hockey was my biggest disappointment. While I attended the games, my vision was very fuzzy and I couldn’t really see the plays. I was no longer able to drive in the dark because of my loss of depth perception. I feared, even at dusk and dawn, under minimal light, that I would hit something or someone because of my poor vision. As a result, I avoided driving altogether. I plotted every day tasks such as driving to work or the grocery store and was constantly having to depend on the help of others just to perform normal daily tasks. I could no longer shop in department stores. The lighting and the transition from bright to dim in these situations made it not only impossible to see, but also impossible to tolerate the reality of the limitations that had been inflicted in my life. Eventually I would look to antidepressants to cope with the lack of life quality as a result of my poor vision. At home, we made many accommodations such as putting in new glass doors, light fixtures and increasing brightness to no avail.

After my experience during the trip over the mountains, and not knowing I was going to experience all the hardships described above, I immediately contacted the clinic in Bellevue where my pre-op was done. I went for an eye exam that afternoon and was told that I was seeing 20/20 but had inflammation that could be causing the hazy vision. I was given steroids and told to come back in a week. At the follow up visit I was told that my vision was digressing and was given a prescription for contact lenses. After several more visits to the clinic, a new contact prescription being written with each visit, I was told I was approved by the medical director to have an enhancement. Not feeling comfortable with this, I told them I would need to get a second opinion. The clinic provided me with the name of a doctor who could give me a second opinion. By this time, I had a bad feeling about one of their doctors and decided that I would find a doctor on my own. In my search I discovered it was difficult to impossible to find a doctor in Washington that would see a patient who had lasik surgery done in Canada. This raised my concern and anxiety even further.

Fortunately, a friend of mine was able to convince the ophthalmologist she worked for, to take a look at me, nothing more. After my exam, he determined that I may benefit from having an enhancement to clear up my vision so that I did not have to wear contacts. However, I was informed it would do nothing for the bursting, halos, double vision and other problems that by this time were continuing to worsen. As these were the symptoms that were mostly responsible for the decline in the quality of my life, I chose not to pursue that option.

Several months later I was told that the University of Washington would see patients that had lasik surgery done in Canada. After a very frustrating exam, with fluctuating vision, the head of the Ophthalmology department provided me with his determination. The incision that had been made during the surgery was too small for the size of my pupils. He explained to me how there was no technology available at that time, to correct what had been done wrong. He recommended that I do not have an enhancement surgery due to the risk of scare tissue and thinning cornea from wearing contacts for many, many years.

The good news was that the doctor explained to me that I was not crazy! Even though I was seeing 20/20 with my contacts, my visual acuity was not there. He kindly and patiently explained to me how our eyes are a camera to our brains and that mine was very confused. It couldn’t process the way I was seeing anymore. Saddened, but somewhat relieved that someone could explain what was wrong I continued my pursuit for normalcy.

I began working with an optometrist at the University of Washington who specialized in fitting contacts. After countless fittings he eventually exhausted his options. While he was able to get the vision correct, to actually wear the contacts was unbearable for me. I went as far as having the optometrist at the University submit my chart to the Boston Foundation for Sight. Shortly after sending them he received a post card confirming they received my records and that they would review them and contact me as a possible candidate. I felt fortunate that this had happened before the Foundation appeared on the Oprah Show. After months of no reply I contacted them and was told that they had no record of ever receiving my records. Once again, a Red flag was immediately raised! I would no longer pursue any type of treatment with Boston. I immediately lost any faith or trust in them when I heard they misplaced (or possibly disregarded) my records.

The following fall I contacted the U of W to find out if any new technology had come about. I was devastated to find out that the ophthalmologist that I had been working with had left the University and had actually moved out of state. I was shocked! I was certain that any day he would be calling me to let me know of something new that I would benefit from. Needless to say this was quite upsetting to me. Again, after many more fittings of contacts with the optometrist at the University I was unable to wear the contacts.

Another fall and long winter of having my life uprooted and turned around by my lack of vision. Anyone that has had or is living this experience understands the psychological effect that summer turning to fall brings. It’s like a HUGE loss of little bit of normal vision I have left. Having to go through this year after year just makes it worse. You never get used to it.

The following spring I contacted an eye doctor near my home to have an eye exam. I wanted a simple exam to make sure I had had no changes in my vision. As my appointment day approached I received a call at work from the doctor. She wanted to ask me specifically about my condition. I gave her a brief summary of my lasik outcome and the specialists that I had been evaluated by in Washington. She proceeded to explain to me that she would not be able to see me as a patient because I had been to the best in the state as far as she was concerned. If they were unable to help me she certainly would not be able to do anything.

She proceeded to tell me that my story really bothered her and she had a couple of college friends that worked in the optical lens business. She would talk to them and let me know if she found out about anything that could help. Regardless, I was devastated. The doctor who understood my condition and was going to help me, moved out of town and now I can’t even get a simple eye exam.

Two days later I was contacted again at work by the doctor who I tried to schedule my exam with. She said she spoke to both of her contacts and each of them mentioned a Dr. Maller in Florida. She provided me with his web address. I immediately looked up his site and emailed him. He responded to me later that day and said he would be interested in reviewing my medical records. The following day I sent my medical records to Dr. Maller via overnight mail. Shortly thereafter he contacted me and said he could not guarantee anything but thought he might be able to help me. We agreed on an appointment date and I made travel arrangements.

I was nervous and did not want to get my hopes up too high. I understood that Dr. Maller’s treatment was through special contact lenses and there would be no cutting, poking or probing to be fearful of. At my first visit Dr. Maller explained that he didn’t expect a perfect match the first fitting. Dr. Maller goes for comfort first then goes after the vision enhancement. “After all,” he said, ”if they’re not comfortable, you won’t wear them.” Boy, did I understand that comment! After a lengthy exam and lots of questions and answers, he told me to come back in a couple of days to try the first set of contacts on and he would determine what steps to take next.

Two days later, at my exam, Dr. Maller slipped the contact into my eyes and believe it or not I could actually open my eyes with them in. I wasn’t even blinking a million miles an hour. After several minutes of wearing them I started to realize that I could actually see normally for the first time in 4 years! It was so unbelievable I told Dr. Maller I think I can see. Dr. Maller gave me an eye exam and yes I could see 20/20! I could see almost to the smallest letters on the eye chart. No fuzzy vision! No double vision! No halos! No bursting! No even a bit of guessing or presuming what I was seeing! Everything was clear for the first time in 4 long, long years! I was so delighted but still had some apprehension as to whether it would last.

Dr. Maller had me come back in couple of days for a follow up appointment. During that visit, everything checked out perfect. For the first time in almost 4 years I actually drove in the dark to a store in Florida with absolutely no interference of vision problems. I went to a professional hockey game in the Florida coliseum and didn’t have major anxiety about not being able to see once I got into the building because lack of visual acuity and poor lighting.

I actually flew home from Florida by myself. Prior Dr. Maller’s treatment I would not have even considered walking through an airport without a companion much less getting on a plane and flying home.

This brings me to fall again and what a wonderful fall it has been. Every experience this fall is very special to me. I can’t wait to go into an ice arena and watch my kids play their hockey games again! I can see every move they make! I can even drive myself to the games! I had confidence to find a new job because I now can get myself there regardless of the time of day or weather! I no longer find myself wearing mismatched socks or boots. I can see faces and know who just who I’m saying hello to. I couldn’t wait to see a Christmas tree. I was thrilled to look at the Christmas tree lights seeing just exactly what they were…..a light! What a beautiful season it was for me this year. What a wonderful gift I had received….. my sight!

In summary, I hope by writing this letter, I can play some small part in giving others who can identify with my story, some hope. I’d like to convey some understanding that they’re not alone. I want to give some encouragement that their own lives just may be improved through the services of Dr. Maller. And finally, I want to thank Dr. Maller for giving me my life back and all he does to help others with the same.

Sincerely,
Janet Hawes
Washington
 

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