Hospitalised after laser eye surgery

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Dec 17, 2004

Byline: By Louise Redvers

Laser eye surgery patients have ended up in hospital for emergency treatment after ops went wrong.

In the past 12 months two patients in Newcastle alone have had to go to hospital after complications with the surgery.

John Yellowley, 44, paid pounds 1,799 for surgery at a private clinic in Newcastle.

But within hours of having the treatment, the brickyard worker needed emergency NHS treatment at the RVI .

"The pain was immense," John, of Urpeth Grange, Durham, said. "My eye looked like tomato, it was so red. I was nearly crying, it felt so bad. By the time I got back home it was unbearable.

"I went nearly blind in one eye for a fortnight and was back and forth every day to the RVI for drops and treatment. I had doctors queuing up to look at my eye because they'd never seen anything like it.

"I'm fine now and I can see fine, but I've been told I might get problems later on."

John had his LASIK treatment at Ultralase on Nicholas Street in 2002. He has now received a full refund.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) has recommended the procedure should not be offered on the NHS due to safety concerns.

Nick Strong, clinical director of ophthalmology at the RVI in Newcastle, said: "There are risks with this type of surgery. I think patients need to be more aware of them and private clinics need to make sure only the right people get the treatment."

A spokesman from Ultralase said: "We are aware of two patients from our Newcastle clinic who have been admitted to a local NHS facility with complications following laser eye surgery this year.

"This is a very rare occurrence but, as with other forms of surgery, problems can occur in a small number of cases.

"It is our policy to ensure all patients are fully apprised of the risks associated with laser eye surgery as part of our comprehensive, informed consent process. Both patients are still under our care, and this will continue until they and Ultralase are satisfied with their outcomes.

"Laser eye surgery is very safe and effective, and Ultralase has performed more than 90,000 treatments since 1991. We estimate fewer than 0.1% of our patients have experienced persistent problems."