Binocular Decompensation and Diplopia After Laser Refractive Surgery

“It ain’t rare if it’s in your chair”.  Check out this link to the Scandinavian Journal of Optometry and Visual Science article, June 2011.  In the joint lecture that Jim Thimons and I give on Binocular Disorders Masquerading as Disease, we sometimes throw include a case like this.  As the article emphasizes, some pre-screening of the refractive surgery candidate might allow the practitioner to identify patients at risk for fusion problems induced by the surgery.  What the article doesn’t mention is what one is to do about the patient’s binocular problems after the surgery.  Of course, one alternative is to say “Oops, I’m sorry.  Here’s an eye patch.”   A better alternative might be optometric vision therapy.  Other than omitting this consideration, the article is outstanding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Leonard J. Press, O.D., FCOVD, FAAO