Exposing the LASIK Scam

Here's what happens when a patient with a pupil over 8 mm has a maximum 6.5mm ablation with so-called 'blend' on a VISX S4 laser - the Duke University surgeon, Dr. Terry Kim, MD, who destroyed my vision wrote me a letter stating that he was "pleased with my outcome".

He also kicked me out of the practice. Dr. Terry Kim, MD likely didn't want his colleagues to know he would perform a blatant mutilation such as this to a patients only pair of eyes.

My medical records indicate that Dr. Terry Kim, MD actually PLANNED a surgery with a 2mm pupil size/optical zone mismatch.

All patients I have interviewed report that Duke LASIK Center provides the informed consent materials minutes before surgery while a nurse hovers holding a valium in a cup.

Post-op instructions are given immediately AFTER surgery while you are still drugged.

Patients should receive consent materials and post-op instructions BEFORE the day of surgery so that they can review them carefully. If I had known that it may take months for my vision to recover (actually never in my case) I would have declined.

The staff told me that I would be fine to attend a workshop in a couple of days. How does that jive with post-op instructions stating my vision may not recover for weeks or even months?

I have known people who consider themselves to have decent (not problem-free) outcomes who could not see the computer screen to work for a month or more.

What if another professional provided a service to a LASIK surgeon that prohibited the LASIK surgeon from functioning for a month or more... and that possibility wasn't made clear up front?

We have to remember that when we discuss LASIK surgeons and their staff, we are not talking about people who have respect for the health, welfare and priorities of OTHERS.