Patient Stories: Charlotte Allison

Meet Charlotte Allison, from Texas. At the advice and recommendation of her optometrist — who told her that she required “minor” laser surgery to correct a problem with her vision — she underwent what should have been a simple, short procedure. 

But instead of being referred to an ophthalmologist (a medical doctor and surgeon) near her home, her optometrist had her travel six hours to Louisiana — one of only four states in the U.S. that allow optometrists to perform this surgery.

The result was disastrous: a laser eye surgery that should take 10 minutes lasted two hours and caused permanent vision loss. 

See below for Charlotte's story, in her own words.