The elective procedure known as LASIK eye surgery, often marketed as highly safe, has come under renewed scrutiny following the suicide of a Pennsylvania police officer who reportedly experienced severe complications. Ryan Kingerski, 26, died by suicide in January of the previous year, having attributed his months of excruciating pain, double vision, and persistent headaches to LASIK surgery he underwent five months prior.

This incident echoes previous tragedies, including the 2018 suicide of Detroit meteorologist Jessica Starr, who cited complications from the same procedure. These cases highlight a growing number of patients reporting debilitating side effects from LASIK, despite providers often advertising success rates of 95 to 99 percent.

Reported Complications and FDA Warnings

Laser eye surgery, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), was approved in the 1990s to correct vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The procedure involves using lasers to reshape the cornea, typically taking less than ten minutes, with patients often returning home the same day.

While organizations like the American Refractive Surgery Council state that LASIK is one of the most studied elective surgical procedures with a low rate of sight-threatening complications, emerging research and patient support groups suggest the risks may be underestimated. Some studies indicate that up to a third of patients experience long-term side effects.

Support groups in the UK and US collectively report around 16,000 members experiencing issues ranging from persistent dry eyes and visual disturbances to chronic pain and extreme light sensitivity. Some patients have reported severe mental distress, leading to suicidal ideation.

In response to these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued guidance in the past highlighting potential problems. The agency has received over 700 complaints detailing severe pain, with some patients describing their symptoms as worse than childbirth. The FDA has advised healthcare providers to warn prospective patients about the full spectrum of potential dangers.

Spectrum of Side Effects

Visual disturbances are among the most frequently reported side effects. A 2017 clinical trial by FDA researchers found that nearly half of participants experienced new visual symptoms, including glare, halos, and starbursts, particularly in low-light conditions. Ghosting, or faint double vision, and difficulty focusing are also reported. While these symptoms often diminish as the eye heals, they can be persistent for some.

Dry eyes are another common and often long-lasting complication, affecting as many as 95 percent of patients to some degree. The procedure can temporarily disrupt corneal nerves responsible for tear production. Although usually temporary, the FDA has warned that nearly one in five patients may require daily eye drops for dry eye symptoms more than five years post-surgery.

While rare, infection is a risk with any surgery. Modern LASIK has a very low infection rate, estimated at about 1 in 20,000 cases, with symptoms including increased redness, pain, or discharge. The risk is mitigated by proper eye hygiene and antibiotic drops.

More serious complications include corneal ectasia, a condition where the cornea bulges outward, potentially leading to severe vision loss or blindness if untreated. The creation of the corneal flap, integral to LASIK, can also lead to complications such as incomplete flaps, irregular edges, or epithelial ingrowth, which may necessitate corrective surgery. Flap dislocation due to trauma can also occur, especially early in the healing period.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK), sometimes called 'Sands of the Sahara,' is a rare inflammatory reaction that occurs under the LASIK flap, causing severe eye pain. If not treated promptly with steroid eye drops, DLK can permanently impair vision.

Furthermore, LASIK does not prevent presbyopia, the age-related loss of near vision. Patients who undergo the procedure at a younger age may still require reading glasses later in life, and in some cases, the surgery may accelerate this decline due to issues like untreated dry eye or healing-related changes to the eye's shape.