LASIK eye surgery volumes are declining. LASIK industry representatives blame the economy. LASIK critics attribute the decline to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) heightened scrutiny of LASIK, and public distrust of the surgery following media reports of widespread problems with LASIK.
Especially hard hit are LASIK chains, sometimes referred to as "LASIK mills", such as LasikPlus and TLC Laser Eye Centers. TLC continues to advertise its "lifetime commitment" to patient follow-up care, yet the company's financial picture is grim, and it is uncertain how long TLC will be able to keep its doors open.
TLC's past success is due, at least in part, to the endorsement of the world's most famous golfer, Tiger Woods. However, like many LASIK patients, Woods found that LASIK surgery results don't always last. In May, 2007 USA Today reported that Woods had an additional surgery to correct his "slipping" vision. Golfer Scott Hoch reportedly had LASIK by the same surgeon who operated on Woods. Hoch experienced vision problems after LASIK which affected his game, even after attempts to correct the problems with repeat surgeries.
Patients of TLC may be completely unaware of another pressing concern surrounding the anticipated demise of TLC. If TLC closes its doors, how will patients access their medical records? Preoperative measurements from patient charts are important to long-term eyecare, such as routine glaucoma screening, future cataract surgery, and enhancements. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) concluded that LASIK patients should maintain a permanent record of their preoperative measurements, and developed a form to be given to patients by their LASIK surgeons to record this essential medical information. But the AAO and the LASIK industry lack a plan to inform the millions of former LASIK patients of long-term issues they face after LASIK, and their need to safeguard and maintain LASIK medical records. LASIK watchdog groups speculate that the LASIK industry fears that by making long-term issues facing post-LASIK patients widely known, increased public awareness of problems with the procedure would result in even greater decline in LASIK demand.
It seems clear that LASIK will not rebound, regardless of the state of the economy. Is there a future for high-volume LASIK mills like TLC? If the answer to this question is no, what will happen to the patients who were promised a "lifetime commitment"? In hindsight, TLC patients may be seeing red.
