Police officer dies by suicide after debilitating LASIK surgery complications

A young man in Pensilvania recently seized his life, months after undergoing a corrective laser eyes surgery.

His parents blame their son’s suicide on the “exhausting” side effects he experienced, but vision experts claim that the procedure is generally “safe and effective”.

Ryan Kinger, 26, a young Penn Hills Police Officer, was “a funny and witty-only true person”, according to the team and Stefanie Kinganski, who spoke with Fox News Digital during an interview with camera. (Watch the video at the top of the article.)

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“Ryan would always try to help in some way, even if it’s a stranger,” Stefanie Kinger said. “He was just a very honest person – he meant what he said and said what he thought. He was passionate.”

Ryan was very close to his twin brother, Jacob, while both followed by their father’s steps to enter the implementation of the law. He enjoyed playing golf and spending time with friends and girlfriend, and his parents shared.

In August 2025. Ryan subjected Lasik Eyerurgey, a decision that “changed his life forever,” according to Kinganski.

Ryan wore glasses and contacts since high school, but he decided to surgery so he would no longer need it.

“My son was told that he would come in, have a procedure and return to work in a few days,” Tim Kinger said. “That never happened.”

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On the way home from surgery, Ryan said “something was wrong,” complaining that his right eye was blurry.

“We told him to give him a while, but it was only worse,” his father said.

As the weeks passed, Ryan suffered from a litany of symptoms including severe headachesDouble Vision, Starbursts, Ghosting, Halos and other visual disorders.

“That destroyed his life. That weakened him.”

“There were complications after complications and without improvement,” said Stefanie Kinger. “We have laid down with constant efforts to see different experts, trying to get different opinions.”

“They just said they should be cured.”

Ryana’s mother claimed that the laser surgery left a son “higher order aberration”, which are the distortions in the eye that cause visual disorders.

One corner expert said Ryan had a very thin cornea, which had to be excluded surgery.

“In short, he was not a candidate, and they should have caught it and they should have warned him,” his mother said.

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As the effects worsened, Ryan withdrew from the activities he once loved and became very reserved, his parents said.

In January 2025, five months after surgery, Ryan took his own life.

“The note we left was:” Lasik took everything from me. I can’t stand it anymore, “Tim Kinger said.” That destroyed his life. That weakened him. “

Ryani’s parents are unwavering that his suicide was not the result of an existing Questions of mental health.

“If it was a matter of mental health and something my son had dealt with before, I wouldn’t talk about it,” Tim Kinger said. “But there is only one reason why it’s not here.”

Kinganski has since been linked to other families who have had similar experiences. “We keep hearing from people who just say, ‘I don’t know if I can do it anymore. I don’t know if I can take it, “Ryan’s father said.

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Ryan’s parents now aim to raise awareness and call for “transparency and responsibility”. They also filed an appeal of the FDA.

“What we really look for is the responsibility of the industry,” Stefanie Kinger said. “We want the FDA to step up, start research, start looking deeper, start finding out what long -term effects are.”

“The implied consent is just a piece of paper that gives you without explanation,” the Kingeri team remarked. “The form of consent should say that the lasic can also cause Permanent damage That’s why you want to kill yourself, because that’s a fact. “

“People hurt something every day that is advertised as safe and effectively, which we can tell you that it is not.”

Previous suicides were recorded after laser eye operations.

In 2018, Jessica Starr, a meteorologist at Michigan, took her own life two months after the procedure. She experienced chronically dry eye and blurred visionAccording to local reports.

Starr left behind video magazines in detailing her struggles, saying that she lived “six weeks of hell”.

In 2016, a Texas college student, Max Cronin, committed suicide at the age of 27. His obitnik says his death was the result of “devastating complications from the election laser eye surgery.”

Repetrators of the industry speak

Dr. James Kelly, MD, a well -known expert in refractive surgeon and a comprehensive ophthalmologist in New York, said he was not aware of the literature on a review reporting the higher suicide rates in patients who had a lasic compared to the same aligned demographic population they did not have a procedure.

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“The most common side effect is a dry eye for which there are many effective treatmentsAnd the situation is often improved in a few months after the procedure, “he said.

“The most important message to patients who have eye problems is to seek the care of an experienced professional, and the same is true of anyone who has mental health conditions.”

The Refraction Surgery Council, an organization aimed at “helping people to make informed decisions on the election of vision correcting”, spoke with Fox News Digital in defense of these procedures.

“The huge body of scientific data supports Lasik as safe and effective for those who are good candidates, which is the fact that the FDA has repeatedly confirmed and confirmed by independent research,” a spokesman said.

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For those who think about the vision correction procedure, the Council recommends being “more informed as possible”, which includes understanding whether they are a good candidate, choose the right surgeon and a thorough conversation with the care team.

“As with all surgical proceduresThere is a risk of side effects and complications from LASIK, “a spokesman noted.” Clinical studies reveal that serious complications of threatening vision lasies occur in less than 1% of patients. “

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The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) also commented on Fox News Digital about the situation.

“Although we do not know the clinical details of the Ryan case, we know that the answer to the question of why the person chose to die suicide is complex and most often connected depression and emotional trauma“Said Stephen D. McLeod, MD, Executive Director AOO -A.

“As with all surgical procedures, there is a risk of side effects and complications from Lasik.”

“We have no idea what the role of Lasik could play. No matter what, this is a tragedy, and our hearts go out to the Ryana Kinganski family.”

The Academy noted that, although “most patients are” good candidates, “Lasik is not for everyone”.

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“The Academy recommends to the patients to talk with his ophthalmologist To understand potential risks and ensure that they are a good candidate, “McLeod advised.” Ophtalmologist is the most qualified doctor who advises patients about all types of refraction surgery. “

Fox News Digital reached for Lasik and the FDA who asked for a comment.