Erin Orchard, 36, underwent a vision corrective eye procedure but complications left her in terrible pain that has never gone away. Here, she shares her story. "Prior to the laser eye surgery, I was shortsighted .
I was finding glasses difficult to wear at the gym and trying to use contacts had mostly been unsuccessful. I had also hoped not to wear glasses for my wedding day. My mum had undergone laser eye surgery many years prior and suggested I consider it.
I felt anxious on the day of the surgery in January 2019, but my surgeon reassured me the procedure was completely safe and that I was in good hands. However, within 48 hours of the surgery, I experienced extreme eye pain , halos and photosensitivity. I was told at my first follow-up appointment that this was normal, that I was healing well, and that I could return to work in the next few days.
As time passed and the pain persisted I underwent several consultations with my surgeon and their colleagues, but they were unable to identify the cause of my pain. Over the week my symptoms persisted and my health deteriorated. I became incapacitated with pain and was unable to go to work.
I found it difficult to leave my apartment. Due to the photosensitivity, I was forced to spend many days in a darkened room and listen to podcasts as it hurt to look at phone or computer screens for more than a minute or two. The pain felt like shards of glass slicing into my eyes.
The pain also manifested itself as a sharp, burning, or stingin.