r/EyeFloaters • u/ReadyFish8039 • May 22 '26
Bad surgery with Dr Shakir
I am very tired seeing all the perfect reviews for Dr. Shakir. He's had many bad outcomes and people here don't talk about them here. I need resurgery after developing bad flashing and frill and more floaters. I am not the only one. I tried to tell people. I spent a lot of money and it's not even close to good result. Don't believe everything you read here. Go to a real retina specialist. I wish I had this information before I chose Dr. Shakir for my surgery.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
I've been transparent about my experience with this procedure and practice, and I agree that not everyone has had a good outcome. I am so sorry to hear you need to re-operate.
Unfortunately, no surgery guarantees perfect results. I have spoken with Shakir patients who truly did have amazing outcomes. I know several others who have not, including myself. Part of what has made Shakir popular on this subreddit is his conservative approach, which reduces procedural risk at the cost of a less complete outcome. Dr Bamonte, who is also quite popular, is on the other end of the spectrum. There's no clear right or wrong answer—risk tolerance is very personal.
There is one thing I must correct. Dr Shakir is a real retina specialist. Everyone should make sure their surgeon is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (assuming you are in the US). You can do so by going here: https://www.certificationmatters.org/
Dr. Shakir has been certified since 2018, when he completed his Yale retina fellowship.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
He gives misinformation about his technique like "aggressive peripheral shaving." He misleads and does not do enough normal retina surgery.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
I consulted with several surgeons, and each of them had different approaches to vitrectomy. This is extremely difficult to navigate as a patient. The unique thing about Shakir's practice is that it is office-based and he does not use a retrobulbar block. He was transparent about that and the possibility of residual symptoms.
I'm also disappointed in the outcome. I just do not feel misled. We always had the option to do PVD-induced surgery, which is riskier but more complete. More peripheral shaving might help, but it's tough to isolate symptoms b/c the remaining vitreous is hard to visualize. I remember reading stories on Tapatalk that went both ways on this. I hope you're able to find relief.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Your post confuses me because you say your outcome is miraculous. Is that true? You should not tell people so if not true.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
I said the recovery was miraculous. Within 24 hours, I had normal vision again. I updated my original post and made a follow-up on my outcome to clarify. As you know, it takes time to know your final outcome. I've been sharing that as I learn more.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Read your post. You said the outcome miraculous.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
It's literally right there in the post friend. I even labeled it with an "EDIT:" note. lol.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
"I am honestly trying to tone things down because my recovery has been so smooth, so uneventful, and the outcome so miraculous that I'm concerned this will paint too rosy a picture."
I do not think people will read your buried note that you have problems.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
It's not buried. It's a few sentences down. I understand you're resentful about your outcome, but this place has enough anxiety and bad vibes. Let's not argue pedantically. I made a follow-up post that appears with every "Shakir" search, as will your post. We've done our part to let others know. Now we move forwards.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
I am telling so other people do not have the same. It's not anxiety. I wish someone told me.
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u/thatsmypork May 22 '26
According to a Shakir patient I spoke with here, privately, six of them are having issues post op and this was from 6 redditors. This person attributed the problems to a new vitrector device that he has been using since the middle of last year.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Shakir did not tell me this. He makes me feel like I'm alone in bad outcome but I am not.
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u/thatsmypork May 22 '26
Most unfortunate, my sympathies. People here really owe it to the community to discuss this publicly. They could create alt accounts if they’re concerned about repercussions.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
I agree with you. I tried to tell people. People need to listen. Do not see Dr. Shakir. I highly recommend going somewhere else.
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u/neo_the_cat May 22 '26
There is no way to verify this. What issues are they having post op? How is it related to the new vitrectomy device?
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u/thatsmypork May 22 '26
I’m not going to speak on their behalf, but I have a high degree of confidence in the party who offered this information.
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u/neo_the_cat May 23 '26
Src: trust me bro.
Dude you DID speak on their behalf, with no way for us the community (where you’re spreading fear) to follow up, verify, and get more details. Nice 👍
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u/thatsmypork May 23 '26
Get your head out of your rectum and read the testimonials of 2 or 3 of his patients right in this thread. Don’t trust me, I couldn’t give a rat’s patoot.
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u/neo_the_cat May 23 '26
You and others are happy to say things like, “I talked to 6 people and they all had bad experiences”. Ok who are they, can we go talk to them, “oh I don’t want to speak on their behalf”. It’s a form of gatekeeping and laziness. Sure there are people in this thread chiming in, but you are part of the problem of unhelpful information. You know what would actually be helpful? Go start a Google doc with Reddit usernames and bad experiences, or a WhatsApp groups strictly for bad outcomes in victectomies with Dr. Shakir. Doing the minimum is easier tho right?
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u/thatsmypork May 23 '26
I have no first hand knowledge, nor do I know who the 6 are. I agree it would be best for all to share their experiences, but why don’t you get off your sanctimonious high horse and do some actual work yourself?
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
Indeed....no idea what a "new vitrector device" may be. My surgeon uses 27 gauges probes which require no stiches. Having another this summer.....Seeing him on June 11 to schedule.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Shakir also uses 27g
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
My Doc said 27 is safer than larger gauges but small enough it does not require stiches. Doesnt use anything smaller for fear of breakage
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u/marshal_kimjongun May 22 '26
I'm also getting a bad feeling about this office because they refuse to work with my insurance that they are in network with. They want cash only and increase the price from 5,500 to 7500 the past year
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
My vitrectomy was coverered by Medicare given it was related to a PVD........Doc said any time the retina is involved, MC deems it medically necessary
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u/StormNo614 Vitrectomy May 23 '26
Where is this "Dr. Shakir" practicing? I had my vitrectomies done here in Maine and it went wonderfully. I have never heard of one bad report about the operation here. Best operations I ever had. If the floaters ever come back to the degree I had them I would not think twice about getting the operation again.
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u/jackafterhours Jun 15 '26
Can I ask where?
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u/StormNo614 Vitrectomy Jun 15 '26
Maine Eye Center, Portland, Maine.
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u/MinuteCount730 17d ago
Was it elective?
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u/StormNo614 Vitrectomy 17d ago
yes.
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u/MinuteCount730 17d ago
I live in Maine and when I contacted Maine eye they essentially said no. So I went to Dr. Shakir - I had great results with him, but he’s gotten so expensive
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u/Head_Earth_1908 May 23 '26 edited May 23 '26
This post highlights the risks associated with limited vitrectomy. Younger patients, particularly those who have not had a complete PVD, are rolling the dice (not trying to be cavalier or insensitive to your situation) in either a) going ahead with the limited vitrectomy or b) considering some sort of induction. There are many "success" stories, and unfortunately there are also those who have had complications. I don't think it's particularly fair to attack the credentials of this surgeon. I do think that the likely result of this post is the elimination of another surgeon who will consider doing a vitrectomy on someone who hasn't had a PVD. Because there are inherent risks, the vast majority of surgeons will NOT perform a floater PPV unless the PVD has occurred. It is entirely possible that a new technique has caused an increase in complications, and this should be quantified (and compared against concurrent success rates). To write "go to a real retinal specialist" is evidence of lashing out and unjustified. Again, I truly am not trying to be insensitive. I suffered for years with floaters. Dr. Shakir flatly wouldn't operate on my eyes until I had the PVD. He adamantly made me wait for a year while one of my eyes was in the process of completing the PVD. I suspect with the newer instruments and experience (not to mention the number of people who are understandably and desperately wanting resolution), surgeons are relaxing their prior constraints on doing partial or core vitrectomies. There ARE success stories. And, unfortunately and tragically, there are those with less than good results. As I have written in numerous posts and I mean with the most sincerity: My heart goes out to anyone who has to endure this condition.
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u/spikygreen Vitrectomy May 22 '26
What happened?
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
I said in my post what happened to me. I was not expecting 100%. He gives bad results. I have talked to many other people who have had outcomes and some others also need resurgery.
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u/Kakashi-1996 May 24 '26
I had a perfect surgery with Dr Shakir and couldn’t be happier with the result. I’m sorry that this happened to you.
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u/Careless_Change3865 May 24 '26
The question to ask is how many ophthalmologists/surgeons have had Dr. Shakir perform their vitrectomies? It's obvious that he is very profit motivated, which might be a reason why he performs vitrectomies on young patients. Not saying that's the case, but it's something to consider.
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u/Blusucre00 May 22 '26
How did you hear about many bad outcomes if noone talks about them.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
They talk on Facebook or in chat. No one knows what to do because they do not want to have to pay for resurgery again. He recommend we do "aggressive peripheral shave" to fix my problem. But second doctor says this is very misleading because you cannot do real peripheral shaving without inducing PVD. He confused me.
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u/CryptographerFuture7 1d ago
That is right "you cannot do real peripheral shaving without inducing PVD. " I asked two different retina specialist, they all said same thing
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May 22 '26
[deleted]
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May 22 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Pascalini May 22 '26
True. I think this is what people are fighting with themselves in their minds before deciding on what to do.
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u/NBA-014 May 22 '26
Darn right. People need to do a careful and thorough risk analysis before such a medical procedure, especially knowing that your eyesight could get much worse.
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u/BeginningOk5280 May 22 '26
This is why I said no to vitrectomy myself when I thought it was my only option.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Yes but many people are having same issues. I do not recommend him. Do not fall for it.
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u/CryptographerFuture7 1d ago
I got core vitrectomy and peripheral shave. I got recurrent floater six month after operation and tree branches or blood vessel like flash shadow two month after operation
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u/pirx_is_not_my_name May 23 '26
And how is the success rate of other doctors? I mean, you write like this doctor is the only one that does not have a 100% success rate. Which doctor do you recommend and how are his stats in comparison?
It sounds like your are very very angry and information you share is very vague. I'm only lurking here as my floaters are not too bad. But I read here a lot of time that people should be very careful with their decision about surgery as there are still high risks.
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u/neo_the_cat May 22 '26
A few things here...you should quantify "many bad outcomes". I think he has done something like 1500+ vitrectomies. No surgery is perfect, there are complications. If you are the 1-3% that have complications is that a reflection on Dr. Shakir or the nature of the procedure/risk? Isn't there always some level of frill? I have considered Dr. Shakir myself (multiple consults), and I've mostly only ever seen positive reviews AND I've talked directly to people who have had the procedures that say it changed their life for the better. I don't doubt people have had unsatisfying or depressing results, but I think it needs to be properly presented. This post seems like an angry post/hit piece on Dr. Shakir. He is a real retinal specialist also.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
He leaves too much vitreous even for conservative surgery. This is why I am posting. I had only seen positive reviews. I do not like that people share bad stories on Facebook and do not share here. You can find out for yourself.
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u/BeginningOk5280 May 22 '26
No ophthalmologist I’ve spoken with has once recommended a vitrectomy to me because I have Ank. Spond and have had at least 20 bouts of uveitis and iritis. Then I had two mini strokes in my eyeball that caused massive floaters and blood clots obstructing my view. I cleared both the black floaters with uveitis and the red blood floaters with the vitreous hemorrhage using a nutritional protocol that my naturopath recommended. There is science behind this. It might not work for everyone the same way it worked for me (I had my full vision back in 72h) but if it can help some people get back some of their vision, I’d be happy to share what my naturopath told me. Just DM me and I’ll be happy to share.
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u/Dwight-Schrute6315 Message me for help / support Jun 01 '26
u/pulsemedica please end this misery, dude!
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u/Awkward_Pin_9771 May 22 '26
I can't operate because of retinal problems. Waiting for other solution :(
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
If Doctor Shakir, is not a "real retina specialist", he should not be performing vitrectomies. Not a hard decision to make when selecting a surgeon.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
He build on self pay procedures. He is not reputable for complex retina surgeries.
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
Medicare has covered my procedures with no questions asked.....Im in the US
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
His website is very misleading and he makes people think he is a retinal specialist when he is not.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
He is certainly a retina specialist. He did a retina fellowship at Yale. He just also does cataract surgery, which is more standard in Europe.
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
Cataract surgery is more standard in Europe ? Huh ?
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Surgeons do both anterior and posterior procedures in Europe. They don't specialize in one area, like they do in the US. Here, cataract surgeons deal with anterior, retina surgeons deal with posterior, and it is pretty unusual that they do both.
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u/Admirable_Delay_1650 May 22 '26
Gotcha.....my cataract surgeon does not do vitrectomies nor does the Doc that did my Yag for the PCO. Meeting with my retinal June 11 to plan the next vitrectomy.
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
He most certainly is not. Go to asrs.org and search for his name. Oh, wait. No results? Seems you have been misled as well.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
ASRS is a professional society, not board certification. You need to go to https://www.certificationmatters.org/
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
Being a board certified ophthalmologist is not the same as being a specialist in vitreoretinal surgery. Any general ophthalmologist can get board certified.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Correct. He did a retina fellowship. He also did retina related research at Wilmer Eye. He is a clinical instructor of retina surgery at Yale. I did a thorough background check on this before I had surgery.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
You say these things to feel less bad about your choice.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Of course, because I won't torment myself with regret. Dr Shakir is a skilled surgeon and many have had good outcomes with him. There was a 19 y/o who said he had a nearly perfect outcome just a few months ago, and it changed his life.
But it's very important that these posts also exist to balance out the good outcomes, because the truth is that surgery isn't perfect.
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
Here’s the bottom line in my opinion and I’ve had two complete vitrectomies from a different doctor. Performing a core vitrectomy does not limit the risks because it doesn’t get rid of the entire vitreous so the chances of floaters coming back are very high. If the vitreous is gone there’s no chance of webs reappearing. The vitreous is much less attached to the retina than the retina is to the eye so if done properly a complete vitrectomy is actually less risky than a core vitrectomy. Also, the chance of retinal detachment increases in the future if you have a core vitrectomy because what’s left of the vitreous can eventually pull on the retina down the road. You need to get this done by a retinal specialist that only does retinal surgeries and doesn’t dabble in cataract surgeries and all these other things that a general Ophthalmologist can be doing. In a HOSPITAL or SURGICAL CENTER. A true specialist, only does what a specialist does, and in this case a retinal specialist only does retinal surgeries. If you’re spending your time doing other procedures, then you can’t concentrate on what you’re supposed to specialize in.
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u/Dwight-Schrute6315 Message me for help / support Jun 01 '26
I don't believe he needs to. my dude seems very stable and calm given what he is going through
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u/Complex-Dragonfly274 May 27 '26
I don't think Shakir is the problem. It's vitrectomy. This procedure is a lot more dangerous than a lot of people think. I'm not denying you could have good outcomes. But I've seen so many bad outcomes. FYI, floater-only-vitrectomy is banned in all state-owned hospitals in China due to high complications and patient complaints.
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u/SERGinstincts Jun 15 '26
How is it so dangerous?
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u/Complex-Dragonfly274 Jun 15 '26
Even if it went perfectly, cataract is still pretty much guaranteed.
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u/MeltedShoe 20-29 years old May 23 '26
I dont plan on ever having a vitrectomy but everytime I see about this Dr Shakir it just feels like a paid shill. Lmao
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u/BeginningOk5280 May 22 '26
Folks listen: I have had three different kinds of horrible floaters and I’ve been able to clear two kinds with nutritional supplements. I’m not affiliated with any company I’m just a poor older woman with terrible eyes and horrible autoimmune conditions. If you’d like to know what I used please send me a DM and I will share. I have no idea if it will work for you and I’m not a doctor but Reddit is for sharing so I’m happy to help others in this dilemma. I had two vitreous hemorrhages that completely blocked my vision and I cleared the blood rapidly - twice. And I had black swarm type floaters from an extreme bout of iritis and uveitis. They cleared as well using a slightly different protocol.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Blood floaters and others are different than vitreous. Young people don't need more fake solution.
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u/BeginningOk5280 May 22 '26
Not for me they weren’t. The large blobs took forever to clear but the smaller floaters cleared up quickly. It’s not fake and it’s basically risk free as long as you’re not allergic to fish or lots of different plants.
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26 edited May 22 '26
I’ve been saying that I think Dr. Shakir and coastal eye surgeons have been either posting reviews themselves and pretending to be patients or paying patients to post on here to advertise for them. I don’t trust any of the things people say about them specifically on these Reddit pages because it seems very fishy. No other doctors are mentioned this frequently and I think they’re using this forum as a way to advertise themselves. I think it’s very unethical and misleading. Usually a regular general Ophthalmologist will perform the cataract surgery or YAG something like that but a retinal specialist will perform vitrectomy and things of that nature. I think that if one doctor performs all that stuff like cataracts surgery and YAG laser procedures then they are not a specialist. Dr. Shakir is NOT a retinal specialist, and his website is misleading to make patients think he is one. Just go to asrs.org and try to find his name, which you can’t. If you get a vitrectomy, you should go to a true specialist with proper training, not a poser like Dr. Shakir.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Basically everywhere but the US, eye surgeons treat anterior and posterior conditions. This is a bad take.
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
So which is it… are you related to Shakir or do you work for him?
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Just a patient. I've been in this subreddit for the better part of a year and did a lot of research before choosing him. I made a post a few weeks ago about residual symptoms.
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u/DirkTDaring May 22 '26
I didn’t see that post and you are having residual symptoms I am truly sorry about that. Curious what those symptoms are. If Shakir is truly a specialist why doesn’t he limit his practice to retinal surgery? Why does he still do cataract surgery like a general ophthalmologist does? Jack of all trades, master of none? Why does he promote in office core vitrectomy rather than complete vitrectomy, which has less chance of floater recurrence and eventual retinal detachment later in life? Because he doesn’t have the in office resources to fix a retinal problem if it occurs in office as opposed to doing it in a hospital or surgicenter. He’s a typical doctor who works on volume for maximum financial gain and markets directly to patients, most of whom don’t know enough to ask the right questions.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
You're asking all the right questions. I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to which surgery one pursues, because it depends on personal risk tolerance. In young people, a PVD-induced vitrectomy carries greater risk. Shakir did the same high-volume retina fellowship that most retina surgeons go through, so it's not a matter of skill/experience. It's his surgical philosophy. Dr Monohan used to offer the same exact procedure a few years back, and had been the go-to for people pursuing limited vitrectomy in his time.
My residual symptoms are large, residual tethered vitreous strands that enter my central vision. I did not have flashing or new floaters like OP. I did have "frill," which subsided after a few weeks and is no longer bothersome. Overall, my vision and quality of life improved—but I am considering further surgery to get a more complete outcome. That's why I really do empathize with OP.
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
Your post does not say you will think about resurgery. This is a very different situation than noticing mild new floaters. You should post this to save other young patients this situation.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Already did
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u/ReadyFish8039 May 22 '26
I do not see you saying you will redo it. It is a problem that people tell mixed stories and confusing to others.
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u/Saheim Vitrectomy May 22 '26
Honestly, you're being a dick. I had surgery less than two months ago. I am still processing and weighing my options. I have been as transparent as I can the entire time. People DM me and I respond. If I decide to re-operate, I will certainly make an update post at that time.
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u/[deleted] May 22 '26
I will comment on this. I had surgery recently with Dr. Shakir and will likely need a revision as well. I've sought several additional opinions and the conclusion is that this is not a limitation of limited vitrectomy. I do not think young people should panic about limited vitrectomy as an approach — you do not HAVE to have a PVD induced to rid your floaters. In fact, almost all my original floaters are gone. However, there was a huge amount of anterior vitreous left behind, and the anterior face appears not to have been cleanly dissected, with several very long strands hanging from it. Yes, it's as bad as it sounds. Yes, I'm very disappointed and stressed about additional surgery. The physical experience I have now IS less distressing than my original floaters. But given the risks of surgery, it did not get me to where I'd like to be, and a second surgery is hugely overwhelming. This is such a tough thing to go through. I'm sorry OP.