Stages of Death/Lasik Injuries
In her landmark book, On Death and Dying, Swiss born psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler-Ross defined five distinct stages of death. Although controversial at the time, Kubler-Ross' theories have gained widespread acceptance in the years since their publication. I've thought about this and, in my opinion, a Lasik injury produces reactions that are very similar. Lasik injuries are mysterious and terrifying, and their effects are quite profound, and take time to unravel.- Denial and Isolation: Early on, it is very easy to think of Lasik injuries as temporary phenomena, and it is very hard to question doctors who say that awful problems will go away in a short time. Seeing all the high tech gadgets in the doctor's office, it is hard to believe that things can do so wrong. Surely things must get better soon...
- Bargaining: Kubler-Ross described a desperate effort to make deals with a higher power. Lasik is not a divine creation, but a human invention, so the bargaining takes place on this world. This is the stage that "miracle beams" are proffered to solve all problems, and the patient gobbles them up out of sheer desperation.
- ANGER: In my case, Dr. Laurie Landrio, boss of the Garden City Lasik Center, was instrumental in turning disappointment into distrust, and distrust into rage. Injured people are very sensitive, and longing for somebody to offer understanding and hope. It's easy to believe in somebody that seems to genuinely want to help. When that understanding is revealed to be contrived, and the hope to be false, anger is the natural result. When the corporation distances itself from the wounded patient, anger turns to rage.
- Depression: The thought that Lasik injuries are quite possibly a lifetime handicap is profoundly depressing. Furthermore, the idea that the shallow marketing message of Lasik corporations was so easily swallowed deepens the depression. I began to think that to have Lasik was to trade vision for convenience, and that was a very stupid thing to do.
- Acceptance: Struggling with anger is very tiring. There comes a time when the struggle must end, and a lifetime of injured vision must be accepted. Speaking out about the experience is cathartic, and my yet help others avoid the problem.