Do-It-Yourself Lasik A Hoax
4/12/2006
Source: Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance
People wanting Lasik laser eye surgery to be rid of glasses will still need to go to a surgeon, despite claims of a new website. "I didn't really think that I could do Lasik myself, what with a laser and all," says Marsha Thompson of Raleigh, NC. "But the website looked official so I tried to purchase the do-it-yourself kit."
"It is an obvious hoax, but one with both wit and a message," reports Glenn Hagele, founder of Lasik patient advocacy organization USAEyes.org. "The website is a tongue-in-cheek critique of the sometimes outlandish claims made about Lasik and serves as a warning that if it sounds too good to be true, it probable is false." Hagele's group published an advisory at http://www.USAEyes.org .
The Lasik@Home website claims to have been founded in 2004 by Dr. Amir Khadim, MD, a pioneer in the field of Lasik surgery who practices at the "prestigious Bennett Eye Care Institute in New York City." No such doctor or clinic exists. The website became active early this month.
"I was suspicious," claims Lasik patient to be Thompson. "But the pictures of the four easy steps looked like something I could do." An attempt to actually purchase the device results in a website server error, however hats, t-shirts, and coffee mugs with the Lasik@Home logo are available for purchase.
An email to the contact address of the website did not yield a response.
ABOUT THE COUNCIL FOR REFRACTIVE SURGERY QUALITY ASSURANCE
The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance is a nonprofit nongovernmental Lasik patient advocacy and Lasik surgeon certification organization. The organization operates a popular website at http://www.USAEyes.org .
CONTACT: Glenn Hagele of Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance,+1-916-381-0769, or glenn.hagele@USAEyes.org
Web site: http://www.usaeyes.org/
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