A woman who had routine laser eye surgery says she's now "in pain every day" and has been left in "living hell".
Erin Orchard, 35, had hoped the surgery would fix her short-sighted vision before her wedding day, but complications during the procedure left her nerves damaged.
As a result she endured weeks of extreme pain and sensitivity to light before a doctor eventually realised what had happened.
Although she now has special eyedrops to help the symptoms, she says she's still in pain and the damage can't be reversed.
Erin said she knew something had gone “very wrong” just 48 hours after the operation – but ignored the symptoms.
Within a week of her surgery, Erin rushed to the doctor, feeling like there were “shards of glass” in her eyes.
The student is now taking to TikTok to warn others with one clip getting over 1.1 million views and 81,000 likes so far.
"My eyes were so sensitive to light that I spent many days sitting in a darkened room and it hurt to look at the phone or computer screens for more than a minute or two,” Erin said.
"The pain felt like shards of glass slicing into my eyes, and I had a pins and needles sensation across my face, as well as burning and stinging.
"Even minor environmental triggers such as wind or air condition caused heightened levels of pain that felt unbearable.
"I was forced to wear large protective eyewear to minimise the impact, and I was often made fun of for wearing the eyewear in public settings which became a source of anxiety and stress."
Two months after the operation, which took place in January 2019, Erin was diagnosed with bilateral post-laser corneal neuralgia, a condition that causes pain in the eyes and head following nerve damage.
The student, who had the procedure done in Sydney, Australia, where she lives, has to use special eye drops made from her own blood to help manage the pain.
She also claims to have been “gaslit” by doctors who allegedly dismissed her concerns and who, she says, failed to explicitly disclose the risk of corneal neuralgia and chronic pain.
She said: "I was highly distressed when I was initially diagnosed, and I remember leaving the appointment with tears streaming down my face.
"I was filled with fear upon discovering that the pain I had been enduring would persist as an ongoing issue, without the prospect of a cure.”
Aside from the physical pain, Erin has also been left with mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
She said: "Prior to the procedure, I was in excellent physical and mental state, filled with enthusiasm for my career, excitedly planning my wedding day, and working towards important milestones like buying my first home and starting a family.
"Since being diagnosed with corneal neuralgia, I have undergone a significant transformation – I have had to navigate through the grieving process, letting go of the life I had envisioned for myself.
"The savings I had carefully accumulated for purchasing a home quickly dwindled as I faced mounting medical expenses.
"The medications I rely on to manage my condition have created an obstacle to starting a family, further impacting my hopes of becoming a parent.
"It's reshaped my identity and significantly altered the course of my life and I deeply miss the sense of trust I once had in the healthcare system.
“Fortunately, we went ahead with our wedding day despite seriously contemplating its cancellation for a while.
“To ensure I could manage the day, my pain specialist, GP, and ophthalmologist collaborated to develop a medication plan — I still experienced significant pain and needed some time to recover, but it was a beautiful day.”
Despite the pain she now suffers, Erin’s vision was improved following her laser treatment, although her new prescription shows she is still short-sighted and needs glasses for driving and university.
Now, she is determined to help others – even studying to become an occupational therapist.
She said: “I am incredibly fortunate to have the unwavering support of my family, loved ones and GP — they have been a constant source of compassion, helping me navigate through the darkest moments.
"I'm driven to share my personal journey, advocate for meaningful change, and provide support to others who may be going through similar experiences.”
For those contemplating having laser eye surgery, Erin says you should always consider the risks.
She added: "Educate yourself on risks and complications, consider long-term implications, don't discard your glasses too soon, ensure your surgeon is equipped to handle complications and seek a second opinion if needed."
As for herself, Erin filed a complaint against the clinic, which she says has reportedly since changed its procedures around informed consent.
TikTok users have been left stunned by Erin’s story.
One person added: "This is why I am so hesitant to get it done. I think it will be glasses for the rest of my life."
Someone else added: "This has changed my mind, Thank you for sharing your story I know it’s hard but you are helping people."
Another person, Kat Dolphin, added: "I have had lasik surgery done about 3.5 years ago and I get eye infections all the time now. I think because my eyes are always so dry."
