Eye surgery/lasik patient commits suicide after suffering through complications

Rakaia said:
Id prefer words such as died by suicide or took their own life. There's an implicit stigmatisation in saying that they committed suicide as if they had committed a crim.
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Exactly. Suicide is not a crime. And giving birth is not a crime. But I always wonder who gives the parents the right to bring someone to this world only because the parents feel like it.
 

I haven't ever heard of this happening before. I've known quite a few people over years, including my husband, who had this surgery & had no bad outcomes with it.

The surgery, according to my husband's doctor, said it sets you up for better results if you have to have cataract surgery later. After a life time of glasses, he went 5 years without them. Now that he is back in glasses, they are not the strong script that he had before them.

I'd be interested in hearing what these people had going on or was experiencing prior to surgery. Sad that it happened to them.

Another thought is, were these people properly screened & were they truly candidates for this surgery. Some doctors don't do their due diligence on patients & just run a "production" line for whatever surgery or treatment is popular at a time i.e. weight loss rue-en-y or sleeve surgery, weight loss drugs, etc.
 

That Lady in PA said:
Not true.
The vast majority of people undergoing LASIK surgery simply are tired of wearing glasses and/or contact lenses.
I was in the optical business. I would NEVER have my eyes corrected via LASIK. Too many horror stories to suit me!
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You misunderstood! I was referring to the problems they were having AFTER the surgery that led to their suicides! If you read my other comment you would see that 25 years out from LASIK I am still 20/20 with no problems!
 
Rakaia said:
Id prefer words such as died by suicide or took their own life. There's an implicit stigmatisation in saying that they committed suicide as if they had committed a crim.
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Maybe we're reading it more as "dedicated," as if they had committed to an exercise program? It was deliberate and on purpose.

I've never judged anyone negatively for committing suicide and I don't think very many people do. Anyone who is in so much pain they would rather die, be that physical or emotional pain, has my sympathy.

What bothers me is not the word committed, but the people who call those who take their own lives cowards. Walk a mile in their shoes.
Manatee said:
I have been wearing glasses for 77 years, suicide is a bit extreme.
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I've been wearing glasses since I was eight. They didn't kill themselves because they had to wear glasses, they killed themselves because they were in constant excruciating pain from the botched surgery and nothing could be done to alleviate it.
 
I worked in several eye clinics in and out of the US Navy for six years. My job was to interview patients before they saw the eyes surgeons, after having eye surgery. I must have seen at least 1,000 patients. NOT one patient ever reported having pain. I'm not saying eye pain is impossible, of course it could happen. I seriously doubt thousands are jumping off bridges after having Lasik treatments.
 
VaughanJB said:
If you only got floaters later in life, I suppose they must seem to be very annoying, but you do adjust.
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This can be very serious. It was the prelude to my retina detaching. I thought nothing of it because I’d had them on and off forever. If anyone has an excessive amount, they should see their optometrist soon. I’m legally blind it that eye now.
 
Paladin1950 said:
My younger sister had it and had no problems. Same with some co-workers I had over the years.
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I'm happy to hear this! 🥺 My baby sister (47yrs) had it a couple of weeks ago. She works as a dental assistant/office mgr. The first time she went for her surgery, she had a panic attack on the chair/table. She had to get up and couldn't calm down or be talked into continuing. It was rescheduled a couple of weeks later and she was able to do it then.
 
Lilac said:
I haven't ever heard of this happening before. I've known quite a few people over years, including my husband, who had this surgery & had no bad outcomes with it.

The surgery, according to my husband's doctor, said it sets you up for better results if you have to have cataract surgery later. After a life time of glasses, he went 5 years without them. Now that he is back in glasses, they are not the strong script that he had before them.

I'd be interested in hearing what these people had going on or was experiencing prior to surgery. Sad that it happened to them.

Another thought is, were these people properly screened & were they truly candidates for this surgery. Some doctors don't do their due diligence on patients & just run a "production" line for whatever surgery or treatment is popular at a time i.e. weight loss rue-en-y or sleeve surgery, weight loss drugs, etc.
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I'm glad to hear that your husband has done well with it. I share about my sister having it in post #34. She had been told by one Lasik office that she was not a good candidate but they didn't tell her why. I don't know if she asked why but she wanted another opinion. When she went to a 2nd office, they started the assessment by asking her why the other office told her that she was not a good candidate. Of course, she didn't know. Well, they ultimately approved the surgery for her.
 
OldOld said:
Exactly. Suicide is not a crime.
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That depends on which jurisdiction you're in.
Suicide was once regarded as a sin and suicide victims could not be buried on consecrated ground.
Suicide was once illegal in many jurisdictions, then it was decriminalised but attempted suicide remained a crime (in some jurisdictions). In may people's views suicide is still frowned upon.

PurplePower said:
OK, I don’t see it that way, though and will continue to use it when talking about how suicide touched my life.
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Those of us who have been touched by suicide have earned the right to speak in any which way we choose, dark humour included. You know my preference and I respect yours.

Della said:
Maybe we're reading it more as "dedicated," as if they had committed to an exercise program? It was deliberate and on purpose.
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We all perceive things as we believe we see them.

Della said:
I've never judged anyone negatively for committing suicide and I don't think very many people do. Anyone who is in so much pain they would rather die, be that physical or emotional pain, has my sympathy.

What bothers me is not the word committed, but the people who call those who take their own lives cowards. Walk a mile in their shoes.
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Having lived most of my life in the shadow of suicides I have felt a wide range of emotions about various suicides over the years. At one funeral I was so angry that I was unable to engage with fellow mourners, I didn't stay long.
I have held the belief that it is both a cop out and an incredibly ballsy (I can't say brave) thing to do.

*FOOTNOTE*
My earlier postings were made on my phone. I have had a recent cataract surgery and I have no glasses at present so my typos were posted uncorrected...
 
I had lasik done about 38 years ago. I was advised to travel to Canada for the procedure…as the lens they had there was not yet approved in the US. Canada’s procedure accounted better for people whose eyes at night dilated beyond the corrected area…causing a “halo” effect. I was told in Canada I was NOT a good candidate as they were concerned that they would be unable to correct to 20/20. Also…they usually did a single eye at a time in case there were unforeseen problems. I persuaded them to do the surgery and do both eyes at the same time. While they probably should not have let me persuade them…all went well.
 
Jules said:
This can be very serious. It was the prelude to my retina detaching. I thought nothing of it because I’d had them on and off forever. If anyone has an excessive amount, they should see their optometrist soon. I’m legally blind it that eye now.
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Oh, I have familiar shapes that I've known for decades. As I say, I had a torn retina, so mine isn't a sign of an impending detachment, but are the result of a previous one. I do have cataract surgery incoming on that eye, but my first appointment isn't until August 1st, and then probably weeks later for the actual work.
 
Suicide is considered a crime in some areas. I had a daughter try that once, so glad she did not succeed.
My nephew died a year ago this Friday by his on hand . A son in law 2 years ago, did this.
Suicide hurts all those left behind, therefore to me it is a selfish act - but to have compassion for those who felt no other way out.
 

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