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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T
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Safe LASIK?
To the editor: Your publication recently ran the article “Shuttered Sight, Shattered Lives” by Wendy Lyons Sunshine (Feb. 20, 2003). LASIK surgery substantially enhances the quality of life for the vast majority of patients who have it. That simple, incontrovertible fact is simply not conveyed by the article. Moreover, within the realm of all medical procedures, it is safe, effective, and has a low incidence of complications. The article correctly points out that there are complications, and that, in extreme and very rare cases, they can be seriously debilitating.
The article also makes another very important point, one that I and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) strongly support: The decision to undergo LASIK, or any form of surgery, is a serious matter requiring careful consultation and discussion between patient and physician.
It is an unfortunate fact that there are some practitioners whose advertising and marketing techniques employ price specials and other promotions that are also used to market consumer goods. We believe that these approaches tend to cause people to think of the procedure as a commodity and undermine the idea that full patient/ physician communication is important.
In June of 2002, ASCRS developed a set of LASIK surgery screening guidelines for patients. They include sections on benefits, risks, potential complications, LASIK candidate criteria, pre-LASIK examinations, patient expectations, and working with a physician. The guidelines can be accessed at www.eyesurgeryeducation.com. I should note that this site is being merged with the www.LASIKinstitute.org, which offers extensive and in-depth information on LASIK.
John C. Ciccone
Director of Communications, ASCRS
Don’t Draft Dan
To the editor: Dan Malone has it all mixed up. For him to be in an advanced reporting class after 20 years in journalism (“Prisoners by Definition,” March 6, 2003) says that he thinks he needs a student deferment because war looms. Relax, Dan, the draft is over. Besides, there are already 500 of your grandstanding, showboating, self-promoting colleagues on the ground with the troops now. Given a few dozen extra pairs of undershorts and the latest running shoes, they shouldn’t need any more help.
Brian Perkins, Sr.
Fort Worth
Shimamoverdose
To the editor: I enjoy reading Fort Worth Weekly . I get a lot of new ideas from it, and will often buy music or go to shows based on your review. I would however like to make a suggestion:
I wonder if you have any other opinion other than Ken Shimamoto’s on music, clubs, etc. Although he seems like a good writer, I don’t always agree with his opinion, and wondered if he is the only contributor your paper wants to employ. It seems like every article I read is written by him. I think you would benefit from getting a little more diverse input from different contributors rather than every article written by the same person. Thanks.
Debra Copeland
Aledo
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