The latest piece of news on Lasik failures is here. It has been reported that Ms. Hinman suffered a "… slew of new problems that left her unable to drive or remain in bright daylight for long…" after Lasik eye correction surgery by Dr. Dello Russo at the New Jersey Eye Center. More specifically, Ms. Hinman said that "…she saw strange glows from lights, starbursts around exposed bulbs and distorted letters when she tried to read."

While not all Lasik procedures are successful and there is always a chance that Lasik will cause more problems than it solves, the real concern here is that Dr. Russo allegedly did not explain the risks of Lasik to Ms. Hinman.  Dr. Russo now faces a law suit filed by Ms. Hinman and her husband, and the case is being tried by a seven-member jury.

So, what is the moral of the story? Research. Make sure you research your potential Lasik surgeon. I know this seems like rubbing salt in the wound, but I really feel that many potential Lasik patients don’t do enough research on the doctors they go to. Now, according to the news article:

Dello Russo has been sued more than 16 times since 1991 by patients claiming they suffered permanent injuries while being treated at his New Jersey Eye Center. Some also alleged they were treated by employees who weren’t licensed to provide such services.

If I knew that my doctor had this kind of track record, I would forget about going to him in the first place. However, it is true that such information is not easy to come by for most people. Nevertheless, nothing changes the fact that it is of utmost necessity that prospective Lasik patients should try their best in researching the reputation, experience, and track record of the doctors they are paying for.

[News via NorthJersey.com]