Concerns Over LASIK Surgery After Tragic Suicide of Pennsylvania Trooper
The recent suicide of a 26-year-old Pennsylvania state trooper, attributed to complications after a popular eye surgery, highlights a troubling trend. According to both the patient and her doctor, this is not just an isolated case; several others have reported enduring pain and life-altering side effects from LASIK surgery.
While LASIK providers claim the procedure is 95% to 99% safe, one survivor, reflecting on a “disastrous” operation in 2000, disclosed that he experienced suicidal thoughts for two long years following the surgery. Shockingly, she mentioned that at least 40 others had taken their own lives under similar circumstances.
According to Paula Cofer, 66, from Tampa, Florida, she’s taken it upon herself to inform others about the risks associated with the procedure. “I really didn’t want to stick around at times, but I decided to raise awareness about how dangerous the surgery can be,” Cofer shared.
She pointed out that LASIK’s advocates claim that only 1% of patients experience complications, which she argues is misleading. “There are studies showing that the rates are actually in the double digits,” she insisted. Since the FDA approved LASIK in 1999, more than 10 million people in the U.S. have undergone the procedure, with annual figures around 700,000 to 800,000, as noted by the Medical Journal Clinical Ophthalmology.
Cofer founded the Lasik Complications Support Group on Facebook, a platform arising from shared experiences of LASIK complications.
“Understanding LASIK and its effects on the eyes emphasizes that it shouldn’t be performed on healthy eyes without expecting complications,” she said. The procedure modifies the cornea but doesn’t come without risks; she cites problems like floaters, severe dry eyes, astigmatism, and night vision complications.
Ryan Kinkelski, who tragically took his own life after a brief hiatus from the Pennhills Police Department in Pennsylvania, experienced similar complications after his LASIK surgery in August. His parents, Tim and Stephanie Kimpersky, revealed the struggles their son faced post-surgery.
They recounted his debilitating symptoms: headaches, double vision, dark spots, and floaters. This mirrors the situation faced by Jessica Starr, a Detroit meteorologist whose life ended two months after undergoing LASIK. Her husband noted that she was perfectly healthy before the surgery, yet left behind grievances tied to the elective procedure.
Morris Waxler, now 89 and a former FDA advisor, expressed regret about supporting LASIK’s approval. He has publicly discussed its dangers since 2010, revealing that a 2019 analysis suggested complication rates as high as 10% to 30%. He highlighted that healthy patients are often transformed into individuals dealing with chronic pain following surgery.
Current FDA warnings indicate risks like vision loss, glare, and double vision, though the American Council on Refractive Surgery maintains that LASIK is safe, asserting that vision-threatening complications fall below 1%.
For those like Brooklyn electrician Abraham Ratner, who faced issues after his LASIK procedure five years ago, life became a challenge. “It felt like there was a layer of oil on my eyes. I couldn’t do my job or drive,” he said. In seeking solutions, he found hope with Dr. Edward Bosnick, who advocates for patients affected by LASIK issues.
Dr. Bosnick has labeled the procedure as the “BS procedure,” calling it a form of scam against the public, arguing that it’s a multi-billion dollar industry capitalizing on the health of individuals.
