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    IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEASOF PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

    - - -34 CHERYL FIORELLI

    NEVYAS EYE ASSIklATES P.C.,6 NEVYAS EYE ASSOCIATES

    ,

    andDELAWARE VALLEY LASER SURGERY

    7 INSTITUTE HERBERT 1. NEVYAS, M.D., and ASTTA NEVYAS-WALLACE,:

    8 M.U .

    9Oral deposition of HERBERT NEVYAS, M.D.,

    10taken at the law offices of GoldfcinHomer, /6TO Market

    1 1 .12 Street, 33rd Floor, Pliiladelphia, PA, on Wednesday,

    December (3, 303, bcgirming at approximately 10:30 a.m.,

    LI before Donna M- Simpkins, Registered Professional14

    Reporter, Notary Public.

    16APPEARANCES:

    17LAW OFFICES OF SAMUEL F.KAFRISSEN, P.C.

    18 BY: SAMUEL F. KAFRISSEN, ESQUIRE1515 Market Street - Suite 616

    19 Philadelphia, PA 1910230 Counsel for Plaintiff2122

    15

    5vs.

    SIMPKINS COURT REPORTING23 228 Winton Way

    Somerdale Now Jersey 0808324 (856) 783-6122 (215) 676-4921

    Simpkins Court Reporting (215) 676-4921

    I -N-D-E-XW ITNES S P A G EHERBERT NEVYAS, M.D.

    Examined byMr. KafrissenMs. Newman

    23456789

    1 01 11 2

    1 31 41 51 61 71 81 92 02 12 2232 4

    11 111 3

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    gt is stipulated by and among counselfor the respective p arties that sealing,certification and filing are waived, and thatall objections, except as to the form of thequestion, are reserved to the time of trial.)

    7 HERBERT NEVYAS, M.D., after having been8 duly sworn, was examined and testified as9 follows:

    1 0 -11 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:12 Q. Doctor Nevyas, we have just met a moment ago.13 My name's Sam Kafrissen and I represent th e Plaintiff14 here, Cheryl Fiorelli, and we're here to take your15 deposition today. Have you ever had your depo sition16 taken before?17 A. Ye s .18 Q. And on one occasion; more than one occasion?19 A. Yes, more.20 Q. More than one, okay. I want to, just to begin,21 just give you a few brief instructions that you've22 probably heard in the past in other de positions but that23 will hopefully make things go a little bit faster or24 smoother today.

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    21 APPEARANCES: (Continued)

    2 GOLDFEIN& HOMERBY: PAMELA POST ESQUIRE

    3 1600 Market Street, 33rd FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19102

    Counsel for Defendants Nevyas Eye5Associates, P.C. and Delaware \tiller,

    Laser Surgery Institute and Herbert 'Nevyas, M.D.

    POST & SCHELL8 BY: ABBIE R. NEWMAN, ESQUIRE

    1800 J.F.K. Boulevard, 19th Floor9 Philadelphia, PA 19103

    10 Counsel for Defendant Anita Nevyas-Wallace, M.D.

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    1 Your testimony today is under oath so2 the court reporter administered the oath, same oath you3 would swear in a court of law. Everything that everyone4 says is being taken down by the court reporte r so I'm5 going to ask you to keep your answers verbal because the6 court reporter can't take nonverbal responses down, and7 I'm_going to ask that you wait until I finish my question8 until you

    -begin your answer. I will try to wait for you9 to finish your answer before I begin my next question.

    1 0 I'm going to ask that we speak one11 person at a time because the c ourt reporter only takes12 down one voice at a time.1 3 And you're here with your attorney today14 so if you have any questions for yo ur attorney, you would

    j15 like to take a break or take a bre ak for any reason, just16 say so and we'll take a break.17 If you don't understand one of my18 questions, say so and I will try to c larify it for you.19 If -- with m y questions, if it's a word, a phrase, the20 whole question, whatever it is thatyou don't understand,21 just say so, and especially here because we're dealing

    22 with medical terms, sometimes an attorney has a different23 understanding than the doctor does, and I just want to24 make sure for the record that we're on the same page when

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    3 6Nevyas, M.D.

    1 it comes to that.2 Do you understand those instructions?3 A. Ye s .4 Q. Okay.5 MS. POST: Make sure you keep your voice6 up so the court reporter can hear you.7 THE WITNESS: Right.8 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:9 Q. Now, we've been provided with your C .V. today,

    10 which I'd like to mark as Nevyas 1, and the C.V. that11 you've rovided, Doctor is this a current C.V.?

    12 A. I am not sure. I on t know how current it is.1 3 MS. POST: The C.V. would reflect your1 4 education and training. It's a question of1 5 whether the publications are current.1 6 THE WITNESS: Publications and hospital1 7 staff appointments and the academic1 8 appointments, I'm not sure that they're all1 9 current.2 0 MS. POST: Why don't we first look over2 1 -- I don't mean to take over. Why don't we2 2 first look at the hospital appointments and go2 3 in that order, and if there are any changes to2 4 hospital appointments, tell Mr. Kafrissen.

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    THE WITNESS: Okay. Yes. I'm not surewhat my status is -- they've changed thestatus of people who don't operate there atWills and I do not believe that I am onthe same capacity. I'm not sure what it was.There was some kind of courtesy staff and I'mnot sure what my current capacity is because Ihaven't operated there in many years.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Do you have privileges to operate at Wills Eye

    at present?A. I have privileges to operate at the Wills EyeSurgical Center in New Jersey, which I had applied for.I do not know whether my privileges are active or not atWills right now. I'm pretty sure I do have privileges tooperate but I'm not positive because I haven't operatedthere in many years.Q. Okay.A. West Park Hospital is not in existence anymore.Oh, I'm sorry, it does give a limited, the hospitalappointments here. Let me look at the open ones. Yeah,I m not sure what my courtesy staff or what mydesignation is at Wills presently.

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    open so I'm not - - that's a moot point, my appointmentthere. That's all. I have privileges at Presbyterianand Medical College of PennsylvaniaQ. Okay. And you had also mentioned facultyappointments.A. Yes. I'm I do not know what my currentfaculty appointment is at the Universityof Pennsylvania.I may not -have one because, again I haven't beeneaching there in a good while, and my facultyappointment is at Medical College of Pennsylvania, whereI am a full professor.Q. Okay.A. And at Jefferson again, that was through theWills affiliation that I had a faculty appointment. I'venever been told that I don't have one, but I haven't done

    teaching there in many years so I'm not sure.Q. Okay. Is there anything else within theFaculty or the hospital appointments that you're awareof?A. Not that I can think of.Q. And then I think you said there may be somepublications that are more current.A . I' m not sure. I'd have to check at this point.

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    10Nevyas, M.D.

    1 are others -- I can't think of any modifications of2 what I mentioned but that's the majority.3Q. In 1997, were you practicing full-time?4 A. Yes.5 Q. Now, do you have your complete file here with6you today?7 A. Only on the Fiorelli case?8 Q. Y es.9 A. Yes.

    10 Q. And can I take a look at that.

    11MS. POST: Off the record.

    12 (Discussion held off the record.)13 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:14 Q. Let me ask you this Doctor. The records that15 you have here, the copy of Cheryl Fiorelli's records.16 does that include the Laser Institute record.s as well?17 A. Yes.18 Q. And are those the records that were produced --19 MS. POST: At what point?20 MR. KAFRISSEN: Well, during discovery.21 MS. POST: Yes. Yes.22 MR. KAFRISSEN: What I'm asking is do I23 have a complete copy of this so I don't have24 to go through all these pages?

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    Nevyas M.D.1 MS. POST: I believe you do. What I2 have produced to you are the office records3 from Alternative Nevyas Eye Associates as well4 as the Delaware Valley Laser Surgery Institute5 records. They're two separate charts which6 have beenrovided to you.7 MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay.8 MS. POST: Okay_?9 MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay.

    10 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:11 Q. The documents is there anything that you're12 aware of that is missing from the file that you brought13 with you today?14 MS. POST: Meaning are there other15 records?

    16 MR. KAFRISSEN: Other records.17 MS. POST: Other than --18 THE WITNESS: 1 didn't bring her19 financial records.20 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:21 Q. And the financial records would be the billing22 records?23 A. The billing records.24 Q. Would the billing record.s be from the practice

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    publications where my name has been involved where I w asnot the primary author, and I'm not sure of that rightnow.

    Q. Could you describe for me what your currentpractice is like.A . My current practice is basically surgical thalmology.

    Okay. And was your practice any different in197?A. No.Q. And when you say surgical opthalmology, can youust describe for me what you mean by that.A . Well, I primarily do anterior segment surgery;hat is, surgery of the anterior segment of the eye.That involves cataract surgery, which is most of thesurgery that I do that is not nonrefractive; cornealransplantation and other minor procedures, and I dorefractive surgery which involves refractive lensectomy,Lasik, laser tfiermokeratoplasty, astigmatic keratotomy,adial keratotomy and astigmatic -- did I say refractiveensectomy?Q . Yes.

    A. Intac placement, I-N-T-A-C. Any otherrocedures that might come up that are refractive. There

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    i1 or from the surgical institute?2 A. Both.3 Q. Both okay.

    4 Have you ever been asked to review a5 potential medical malpractice case?6 A. Yes.7 Q. Have you been asked on one occasion or more8 than one occasion?

    More.10 Q.9A.

    Have you ever agreed to serve as an expert in a11 malpractice case?12 A. Yes, I have.13 Q. Can you estimate for me on how ma ny occasions?14 A. Many years. 50, maybe 100 over quite a few15 ears.16 Q. Have those cases been inside Philadelphia17 ounty or outside of the County?18 A. Both.19 Q. Within the last, say, five years, have you20 testified within Philadelphia County?21 A. By "testified," do you mean m court?22 Q. In court.23 A. I haven't -- I've only -- I've never testified24 in Philadelphia County.

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    Q. Okay. Have you ever testified on a videotapeddeposition for a Philadelphia County case?A. I think so. I can't remember specificallywhere the case s originated but I've been on videodepositions on a number of occasions.Q. Okay. Have the cases that you've served onbeen -- what side have you worked on?A. Both.Q. Okay. And of the cases that you've served on.do you recall the names of any of the attorneys that

    you've worked with?MS. POST: Sam, the only reason I wantto limit this is there may be situations whereDoctor Nevvas has been retained as an expertbut not anticipated to testify at trial,which, obviously, would not be discoverable inany situation. I don't know that he knows thedifference, so if he knows -- if we can limitit to those cases where he's actually beeninvolved --

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Where he's alreadytestified.

    MS. POST: -- where he's alreadytestified, then I don't have a problem with

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    1A. No.2 Q. Do you know the name of the firm representing3 you in that case?4 A. I don't remember it. Oh, I'm sorry.5 Representing me?6 Q. Yes.7 A. I forget.8 Q. Okay. For today's deposition, did you review9any materials?

    10 A.' Yes.

    11 Q.And can you tell me what you reviewed.

    12 A. I looked over the -- very briefly, I looked13 over the records. I didn't go through them all on this14 case.15 Q. Did You review any articles, journals or any16 books that dealt with any of the issues involved in this17 case?18 A. No.19 Q. Did you do any research, outside of looking in20 the records, into any of the issues involved in this21 case?22 A. No.23 Q. Did you speak with any colleagues concerning24 any of the issues involved in this easel

    -

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    it.MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:

    A.Q.

    No.Do you understand the distinction?

    MS. POST: That's the jproblem. I justdon't want to interfere with his contracturalrelationship with someone in a situation wherehe's not called to testify.

    MR. KAFRISSEN: I can just change thequestion.

    B Y MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. What I'm looking for are cases that you'veactually either testified on videotape or in court live,if you know any of the attorneys that you've worked with

    in that capacity.A. In the past, I have -- I don't remember verymany of the attorney's names. One was David Shrager 1have testified for him, but that's been a long time ago.I'm not verygood with remembering the names ofattorneys. I happen to know him personally so Iremembered his name. I can't tell-you others. I don'tremember them.Q. Okay. Have you ever been involved as a

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    Nevyas, M.D.1 A. No.2 Q. Did you speak with Anita Nevyas-Wallace about3 this case?4A. No.5 Q. And my understanding, from Anita's deposition,6is that Anita is your daughter?7A. Anita's my daughter. Other than to say it's a8 pity that this woman has resorted to lawsuits, that's9 all. We haven't discussed the facts of the case at all.

    10 Q. Okay. Did you discuss Anita's testimony,11Anita's deposition testimony prior to coming here today?12 A. Not at all.1 3 MS. POST: With Anita?14 MR. KAFRISSEN: With Anita.15 THE WITNESS: No.

    16 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:17 Q Did you read Anita's deposition transcript?A.18 A No.

    19 Q. Okay. Other than your attorney, have you20spoken to anyone about this case and your testimony here21 today?22A. No.23Q. What I'd like to do isget an idea -- and I24 looked through -- because we had been provided a C.V.

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    defendant in a medical negligence case other than thisone?A. Yes.Q. On how many occasions?A. I'm not sure what you mean by defendant. Ihave one other case a t present where I am being sued, andI've had three or four, perhaps, in the past where I wasued but they never got so far as to a deposition.Q. Okay. The case -- there's one other casethat's currently active?A. That's nght.Q. And doyou know where that case is pending?A. In Philadelphia,I think, yes.Q. Rather than get into that case, because it'sprobably a lot of other issues involved with it, doesthat involve anything to do with Lasik or lensreplacement surgery?A . Yes.Q. Do you know the name of the person bringingthat case?

    A . Yes.Q. What's that?A. Dominic Morgan.Q. Have you been deposed in that case?

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    1 before about -- if you could describe for me your2 experience with Iens replacement surgery, rather than3having me go and say: What's this article about; what's4 that one about.5 MS. POST: You mixed metaphors-. Do you6 want to know if his C.V. contains any articles7 or anything about lens replacement --8 MR. KAFRISSEN: No.9 MS. POST: -- or do you want to talk

    10 about as of '97, what his experience was with11 lens replacement?12 MR. KAFRISSEN: Right.13 MS. POST: Because they were two14 questions.15 MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay. I would like the16 doctor just to give me, if you can, to kind of1 7 summarize for me his experience with lens18 replacement surgery.19 MS. POST: As of 1997?20 MR. KAFRISSEN: As of 1997.

    21 THE WITNESS: Well, I've been performing22 cataract surgery since about 1963 or so, and23 lens replacement surgery is cataract surgery24 except it's easier and safer because you don't

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    have to deal with a hard cataract. You dealwith a very soft lens, which can essentiallyusual!y just be aspirated without having tobreak it up by ultrasound, and I've done agreat many cataracts over the years. I guess

    maybe 30,000 or so, probably more than anybodyeVe in the Delaware Valley. I've lectured oncataract. I've devised instrumentation forlens surgery, cataract surgery -- they're thesame thing -- and I have been very active init. That's what most of my worklias been overthe_years.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Okay. Can you describe for me your training inperforming the Lasik procedure.A . The training for the Lasik procedure, I guess.

    would have to start with training in automated lame llarkeratoplasty, or ALK. Since that operation wh ich webegan doing -- I'm not sure of the d ate, I think in theearly '90s, 91 or so or '92, perha ps, is the sam e asLasik except that a mech anical device is used forremoving the portion of the cornea that gives the powerchange in the cornea rather than a laser, and I took amini fellowship with Doctor Steven Slade. S-L-A-D-E. I

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    1 you describe, which is kind of a precursor, it sounded2 like, to Lasik, was corneal thickness ever a concern in3 performing an ALK procedure?4 A. Sure. Concern, yes.5 Q. Can you describe for me what significance, if6 any, corneal thickness had to the ALK procedure.7 A. If the cornea were extremely thin, one might8 get progressive change and progressive hyperopia after9surgery ;There were two ALK procedures: one for myopia,

    10 which is the same a s Lasik, essentially, except that the11 second cut is made w ith the microkeratome to remove12 tissue; and the other procedure was a microkeratome13 procedure for hyperopia where you m ake a very deep cut:14 and the thickness of the cornea is importan t there15 because you can o nly take a certain percentage of the16 cornea for the deep cut without getting progressive17 hyperopia. This really doesn't apply to the L asik18 procedure, but we have to be careful of that because the19 principle of the hyperoptic ALK pr ocedure is that of a20 controlled ectasia of the cornea, an d to control it you21 have to have the right depth.22 Q. Now, did ALK continue in use after Lasik came23 to be?24A. By some people, until they of lasers. I don't

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    Nevyas, M.D.attended lectures by D octor Louis Ruiz, R-U-I-Z, and heis essentially the inventor of the pr ocedure, and Iattended m any m edical meetings involving ALK. I trained

    Lasik by attending man y fellowships with severaldifferent doctors. I spent time with Doctor Delaney inPhoenix and with Doctor Hollace in Columbia

    Columbus,Georgia, Columbus, Georgia. And I've attended m anymeetings and worked with my colleagues on it, and I'vedone alot of reading and work in the field.

    The Lasik procedure and the ALKprocedure are the sam e except for the use of the laser toremove the tissue that m akes the power difference.Actually, Lasik is a much easier operation than ALK.Q. When did you begin doing ALK on your own?A. I would guess aroun d '91 or '92, but I'm n ot

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    Nevyas, M.D.Iknow of anyo ne who w ould have continued using ALK if be2 had the a bility to use the laser. It 's more accurate.3 Q. Now, during the Lasik training, can you tell me4 what, if anything,. you learned about the importance of5 corneal thiCkness in the Lasik procedure.6 A. Nothing different from ALK. The cornea l7 thickness, again, is measured so that one doesn't remove8 so much cornea that one could get progressive hyperopia9 or ectasia.

    10 Q. Okay. When you perform ALK, would you measure11 corneal thickness prior to performing the procedure?12 A. I believe so. I don t remem ber exactly whether13 we were m easuring itor how we were measuring it. We14 were estimating it, certainly, at the slitlamp. I do not15 remem ber when we started using ultrasonic measurements of

    16 corneal thickness. We've always had optical measuremen ts17 of corneal thickness.18 Q. When you began performing the Lasik procedure19 in December of 1995, were you making either ultrasonic or20 optical measurements of corneal thickness prior to21 performing a Lasik procedure?22 A. I dO not recall whether that was be ing done or23 whether it was being estimated on a slitlamp examination.24 I'm not sure. I'd have to check the records. I don't

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    sure.Q. Do you have any subspecialty withinopthalnaology?A. I would consider my subspecialty cataract andefractive.Q. Okay. So from the early '90s through -- washere -- when did you start to perform Lasik.

    MS. POST: When did he start thetraining or when did he start to do it on his

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    own?MR. KAFRISSEN: No. When did he start

    to perform it himself?THE WITNESS: I believe it was in 1996,

    but I may have that note in my bag, if youwant me to review it. I wrote down a rewdates to remind myself of dates. If you want.I'll check it.

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay.MS. POST: Why don't you do that.THE WITNESS: December of '95 I started

    usingthe laser.BY MR. SSEN:

    Now,.of the Lasik procedures, from my review ofQ .the records, it looked like you had assisted in some ofthe Lasik procedures and the enhancement procedures thatwere done on Cheryl Fiorelli but had not been the primaryurgeon, is that right?A . Yes.Q. And is that correct for all -- were there any

    Lasik procedures where you were the primary surgeon withregard to Cheryl Fiorelli?A. No.Q. Okay. With regard to the ALK procedure that

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    Nevyas, M.D.1 know.2 Q. Okay. The considerations regarding corneal3 thickness with ALK, would those have been considerations4 that you were aware of between, say, '92 and '95?5 A. I' m sorry. What was that question?6 Q. You had mentioned that corneal thickness would7 he a consideration in performing ALK; correct?8 A. Yes .9 Q. And what I'm asking you is was the

    10 consideration of corneal thickness something that you11 were aware of between 1992 and 1995 when you were12 performing those ALK procedures?13 A. It's something we became aware of when we14 learned that corneal thickness was important. When we15 started doing the procedure, I don't think we were as16 aware of it, but as cases were reported in some patients17 who had very thin corneas developing ectasia, we became18 more awa re of it. I really don't reme mbe r when19 ultrasonic pictometry became available, and as soon as it20 did, we got the instrument and started using it.

    21 Uo you know if that was available prior to22 March of 1997?23 MS. NEWMAN: In his office or anyplace?24 MR. KAFRISSEN: At all.

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    THE WITNESS: I'm not sure.BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Do you know if it was in your office priorto --5A. As I said, I don't remember exactly whenwe got

    the instrument.7Q. Okay. When you say -- you had just mentioned

    that in certam patients it had been reported, issues ofthickness or people with thin corneas, issues that hadarisen when they went through this procedure, the ALKprocedure. Do you recall when, approximately, thosearticles started coming out?

    3 A. Not exactly. 1 -couldn't name you a date.Q. No. Without naming a date, but would it bebefore the Lasik surgery started or after the Lasikstarted?

    MS. POST: Before he started doingLasik?

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Right.THE WITNESS: Probably after but, again,

    I'm not sure. If one searches the literature,one might find articles many years ago thatdiscuss thickness. I'm not sure.

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    I Q. To correct nearsightedness, as in Cheryl2 14iorelli. would you be flattening or rounding the central3 corneal4 MS. POST: Objection to form. You can5 ans wer.6 THE WITNESS: Flattening.7 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:8 Q. In 1997, was there any way to measure the9 remaining -- the thickness of the remaining cornea?

    10 A. Yes.1 1 MS. POST: After surgery? Is that what

    12 you're asking'?1 3 MR. KAFRISSEN: After surgery,1 4 THE WITNESS: Yes.15 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:16 Q. And can you tell me how that was done.17 A. Ultrasonic picometry (ph). I'm sure we had the18 ultrasonic picometer sometime around there. In '97 I19 know we had it because I see it on the records now that20 I've looked.21 Q. And can you tell me what significance is there,22 if any, of the post-surgical corneal thickness.23 A. Well, most people feel that one should leave24 200 to 250 microns of corneal base beyond the ablation in

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    Nevyas, M.D.Q. In March of 1997, am I correct that both youand Anita Nevyas-Wallace were employees of -- who wasyour employer?A. The corporation, Nevyas Eye Associates.Q. At the time of the surgeries in 1997 and 1998

    on Cheryl Fiorelli lwere you continuously employed byNevyas Eye Associates?A. Yes.Q. So that anything you were doing was on behalfof Nevvas Eye Associates?A. - Yes.Q. With regard to the surgery and the treatment ofCheryl Fiorelli.A. I' m not sure I understand the question, but,yes, that was the employment situation. It was on behalfof myself and my practice.Q. Okay.A. I own Nevyas Eye Associates.Q. And between 1997 and 1998, was Anita Nevyas-Wallace also an employee continuously for Nevyas EyeAssociates?A. Yes.Q. Can you tell me about how thick a normal corneais?

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    Nevyas, M.D.I order not to run the risk of having ectasia post-2 operatively, and the postoperative thickness would tell3 you the full thickness of the cornea. Assuming the flap4 is 160 microns, if you subtract that from the5 postoperative thickness, you would have the thickness of6 the base that was left.7 Q. Was corneal thickness a factor in planning the8 Lasik surgery prior to March of 1997?9 A. I really don't know if it was a factor or not.

    10 Obviously, the gross appearance of the cornea was. I do11 not have in the record here -- perhaps you have it; I'm12 not sure, since I didn't see the patient uutially --13 Q. Right.14 A . -- and I have not gone over the records in15 great detail, I do not know whether corneal thickness was16 measured ultrasonically prior, but I do see on this17 chart, as of July of '97, corneal thickness was measured18 ultra- sonically, and the corneas were actually thicker19 than normal and far thicker than needed for the amount of20Lasik that she had if that's what you're ask ing21 Q . Okay. Well,I did ask that, but I also -- I22 gums what rwas asking is not necessarily with relation23 to Cheryl Fiorelli, but, m general, as of 1997 -- let's24 say the beginning of 1997, when a surgeon is planning a

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    A. About 500"microns. That's half a millimeter.Q. And how thick is a -- is there a normalhickness of a Lasik flap?A. Yes.

    Q. And how thick Ls a normal Lasik flap?A. Usually about 160 microns. That's what we sett for.Q. And would vou agree with me that the Lasikprocedure reduces the thickness of the cornea?A. Sure.Q. Were you aware, as of 1997, that the Lasikprocedure reduced the thickness of the cornea?A. Yes.Q. And would you also agree that the ALK

    procedure, which preceded Lasik, reduced the thickness ofhe cornea as part of the procedure?A. The central thickness in the zone that wasoperated. It reduces only the central thickness, both ofhem.

    Q. Okay. The thickness of the normal cornea, when

    you say 500

    -

    microns, is that what you're talking about,he central thickness?A . Yes. I'm talking about the center. It getshicker in the periphery.

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    30Nevyas, M.D.

    1 procedure, a Lasik procedure, is corneal thickness - was2 corneal thickness a factor to he considered?3 MS. POST: The only reason I'm objecting4 is because you're venturing into the realm of

    5 expert opinion, and he's not here to give6 opinions as to anything that he was not7 involved in, and what you're leading up to is8 Doctor Nevyas giving an opinion, basically,9 about what was done, and I don't want to go in

    10 there. If you're talking about his general1 1 knowledge as to whether he did it, that's12 tine, but if you're asking is it done by other1 3 people, then that's where I don't think it's14 an aggo te uestion.15 KAFRISSEN: Well, actually, I am16 asking aboutabout general knowledge, but I17 still think it is an appropriate question18 because he assisted

    - in the Lasik procedure of19 3/20/97.20 MS. NEVVMAN: But that's not doing a pre-

    21 operative study.22 MS. POST: That's not dealing with the23 preoperative issues, and he was not involved24 in the preoperative issues.

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    MR. KAFRISSEN: Well, we haven't got tothat_yet.

    MS. POST: He just said that, so I thinkthe --

    MR. KAFRISSEN: What I'm asking is hisgeneral knowledge.

    MS. POST: That wasn't your question.Your question was do people . or -- Irmparaphrasing, but does one, m evaluating apatient for La.sik, measure corneal thickness,

    and I think that is venturing into the expertissue. If you want to know whether DoctorNevyas, in 1997, whether that was his practiceto do so, I'll allow him to answer that, butwhether it's should someone e lse do it is notan a_ ppropriate question, again. consideringthe fact that he's already testified that hewasn't involved.

    MS. NEWMAN: And I would object to thequestion was it his practice in 1997 becauseit's irrelevant to this case.

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay.BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. As of January of 1997 , when you were planning a

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    34Nevyas,M.D.

    I BY MR. KAFRISSEN:

    3

    Q. What's the number?The right eye was 447 microns and the left eye

    4 was 580 microns. And I might add for clarity that the5 two eyes are almost always very similar so that we can6 pretty well assume the right eye prior to any surgery had7 about 580, and that would just about be what we would8 expect for the amount of correction.9 MS. NEWMAN: Sorry to interrupt.

    10 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:

    11 Q. I want to clarify one thing. That was in July12 that measurement was made?13 A. Of '97.14 Q. Of '97. Would the thickness of the measurement15 change at all by virtue of the fact that she had already16 had a lens replacement at that point in the left eye?17 A. No. -18 Q. Now prior to March 20th of 1997, which is,19 from my review of the records, the first Lasik procedure20 on Cheryl Fiorelli's right eye, had you ever examined or21 evaluated Cheryl?22 A. I don't recall ever examining her before then,23 no. According to the records, I have not.24 Q. Okay. Do you have any independent recollection

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    32Nevyas, M.D.Lasik procedure, how, if at all, did you consider corneal

    thickness?MS. NEWMAN: Objection.MS. POST: You can answer.THE WITNESS: 1 don't recall

    specifically in January of 1997 what we did,but, obviously, we examined the patient and ifthe cornea looked adequately thick, we weren'toverly concerned about it. As soon as we hadthe means to measure ultrasonically, we didsince that's the more accurate way to measurecorneal thickness, but optically with aslitlamp beam we could gauge thickness, and wedid gauge it always. If a cornea looked quitethin, we would be concerned, but it was only

    after that time that cases became reportedthat established one should leave 200 to 250microns.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q Now, when you say it was only after that time,

    what do you mean?A. There have been reports over the past few years

    urging us to leave more than 200 or 250 microns in orderto avoid the possibility, not probability but the

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    35

    Nevyas, M.D.I of Cheryl?2 A. I remember her, yes.3 Q. What do you remember about her?4 A. She was a thin,young woman, very anxious.5 Q. Okay. When do :you first see in the records6 that you had contact with Cheryl Fiorelli?7 A. I'd have to look in the records to tell that.8 Q. Okay.9A . According to the record, I first saw her on

    10 March 21st of '97, the day after her Lasik procedure.11 Q. Okay. Now, the Lasik procedure that was12 performed, we have the records from the Delaware Valley13 Laser Surgery Eye Institute, or actually Laser Surgery14 Institute and in the records you were fisted as the

    i15 assistant in the March 20, 1997 Lasik procedure, and I'm

    16 looking at the operative form.17 A. Yes .18 Q. O19 A. May I look at it. I can't find it in my pile.20 MS. NEWMAN: Off the record.2 1 (Discussion held off the record.)22 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:23 Q. Now, before I get to that, do you have any24 recollection of ever discussing Cheryl Fiorelli with

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    3 3Nevyas, M.D.

    possibility of ectasia where one could have iatrogenickeratoconus where the cornea might not have its normalsphericity but rather be somewhat cone-shaped, and therehave been a few cases reported of iatrogenic -- that is,

    physician caused -- keratoconus from leaving too littlecornea. These cases I've seen in the literature havebeen mostly over the past few years, and I cannotremember exactly whether I had seen cases reported orwhether there had been editorials on it in '97 or whetherit was '98. I'm not sure, '99.

    36Nevyas, M.D.

    1 D octor Nevyas-Wallace prior to March 20th of 1997?2 A. No.3 Q. Do you have any recollection, prior to March4 20th of 1997, of having any contact with Cheryl Fiorelli?

    5 A. I have no recollection.6 Q. Okay. Is there anything in your records that7 you've seen that indicates that you had any contact or8 dis -- any contact with Cheryl Fiorelli or any9 discussions with anyone about her prior to the surgery in

    10 March 20, 1997?11 A. No.12 Q. Did you ever, prior to the March 20 -- the13 performance of theprocedure on March 20, did you ever14 make an independent evaluation of Cheryl as a surgical15 candidate?16 A. No,17 Q. Did you, prior to the March 20 performance of18 the procedure, ever aid Doctor Nevyas-Wallace in making19 an evaluation of Cheryl as a surgical candidate?20 A. I have no recollection of such.

    21 Q. Okay.22 A. . We practice in the same office. I guess,23 theoretically, it's possible I could have seen her at24 some point in the office, but I've never actually seen

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    Q . Okay.MS. NEWMAN: Sam_ can I go over

    something that he just said,

    because I missedthe answer.

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Sure.MS. NEWMAN: You said that in looking at

    the records in July of 1997, the corneas weremeasured postoperatively, and did you give anumber for how many microns they were post-operative! y?_

    l'HE WITNESS: Yes.MS. POST: He did not give a number.THE WITNESS: The record had a number.MS. NEWMAN: Then I won't interject.

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    her as a patient.Q. Okay. The records that we were given justso I'm dear, the records from your office, we have atyped translation of those records. With regard to theentries that you made, have you seen the typed entries?A. I dictated it.Q. Oh, okay. Is there anything in your review

    .

    , inerms of these records getting ready for the case today

    or in your review of these records after they weredictated, that you feel is inaccurate?A. No.

    MS. POST: Your question, just sounderstand, is you want to make sure thatwhat's in the handwritten record has beentranslated accurately.

    MR. KAFR1SSEN: Accurately, right.MS. POST: I just want it right.THE WITNESS. As far as I know.MR. KAFRISSEN: Okay. That's the

    question.MS. POST: Okay.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Now, do you have any independent recollectionof the March 20 Lasikprocedure on Cheryl Fiorelli?

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    Nevyas, M.D.A. No.Q. You are listed in the operative form from theLaser Surgery Institute as assistant. Do you see that?A. Yes.Q. And the primary surgeon in that was AnitaNevyas-Wallace; is that right?A. Yes.Q. Why did you assist in that procedure?A. I just wanted to be present to increase myxperience and to he of any help which I could.imilarly, she assisted at my procedures.

    Q. Okay. Do you have any idea how many Lasikprocedures you had performed as of March of 1997?A. No, but we have a logbook that would list thenumber exactly. I don't remember.

    Q. Okay. Let me ask it this way. Without makingwild guess, is there any way to reasonably estimate howmany per month or per six months or per year you hadperformed?A. Well we had just started, as I said, inDecember of'96 -- was it '96?

    of '95MS. POST: Your testimony was December

    .

    THE WITNESS: '95, I'm sorry. I don'tSimpkins Court Reporting (215) 676-4921

    39Nevyas, M.D.

    really remember numbers. Maybe a couple ofhundred but I'm not sure. I would have to getyou the accurate number if you need it.

    Y MR.. KAFRISSEN:Q. Can you tell me, as an assistant. do you haveny recollection of what you actually did during thispecific procedure?

    MS. POST: Notgenerally.THE WITNESS: Not generally?

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Right. Not what you would normally do.A. I dim't recall this specific procedure.Q. Okay. Now let me ask you generally as an

    issistant in a Lasik procedure in March of 1997, couldou tell me generally what it is that you would be doing.

    A. Just standing by, observing; if one needed anyelp with the operation of the laser, I would perhapselp.would follow orders. If I were told to donything to help retract the drape if the patient were

    having trouble breathing or sometimes I may have operated

    he foot pedals for the microkeratome, although I don telieve 1 did in this case, but I just stood by andbserved,. primarily, see if I was needed.

    Q. Okay. Now, prior to the performance of theSimpkins Court Reporting (215) 676-4921

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    1 March 20 surgery, did you make any evaluation or any2 recommendations with regard to Cheryl trying to be fitted3 for contact lenses?4 A . Prior to what?5 Q. The March 20...6 A. Weil, I didn't see the patient prior to the7 surgery.8 Q. Okay. Can you tell me what was your9 understanding as to the purpose for the procedure on

    10 March 20.11 MS. NEWMAN: Objection. He doesn't

    12 remember.1 3 MS. POST: Right.1 4 THE WITNESS: The purpose for the Lasik1 5 procedure?16 MR. KAFRISSEN: Yeah.17 MS. POST: Let me -- since he doesn't18 remember the procedure, I don't know whether19 he can say what the purpose was of this2 0 particular procedure. Do you want to know21 what the goal is generally in performing a2 2 Lasik rocedure?2 3 1 . KAFRISSEN: Well, I think he can say2 4 -- 1 know he doesn't remember the procedure,

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    41

    Nevvas. M.D.1 but he has lookedat the records so he may2 have -- having looked at the records, it mayhave refreshen his recollection as to why they

    4 were performing this particular procedure on5 Cheryl as opposed to what they do generally,6 so I think I can ask him that question:7 Having looked at the records, do you know what8 the purpose --9 MS. POST: My problem is as opposed to

    1 0 what they do htgeneral?II MR. KAFRISSEN: Well, I don't know if12 there is a difference or not, but that's why I1 3 need --I'd like to ask the doctor to clarify.14 MS. POST: Objection to the form. If1 5 you know.16

    THE WITNESS: The purpose of the17 procedure was the same as any of myopic Lasik1 8 procedure: to relieve the patient of the19 myopia, which made her dependent upon glasses20 or contact leases, and in her case made her21 absolutely blind and helpless without an2 2 oflea! rosthisis.2 3 BY IVIR. SSEN:2 4 Q. Okay. Was there any upper limit to the

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    42Nevyas, M.D.

    1 nearsightedness as of 1997 in determining whether you2 would operate on someone or not?3 MS. POST: Objection to form. He didn't4 operate, but I'll allow him to testify ak to5 his considerations.6 MS. NEWMAN: Objection. Go ahead. You7 can answer.8 THE WITNESS: At that time Lasik was9 being.done up to about 25 diopters around the

    10 world. and, therefore, there was no specific11 li mit, but for the higher ones we tended to do12 refractive lensectomy and for the lower ones,1 3 Lasik, since the results of Lasik were less1 4 _predictable and dependable the higher you get.15 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:16 Okay. Were you aware prior to surgery of what1 716 Q Okay.

    preoperative refraction was?1 8 MS. NEWMAN: Objection. He doesn't19 remember.2 0 MS. POST: Yeah.

    2 1 MR. KAFRISSEN: Well, it's actually in22 the records.2 3 MS. NEWMAN: Well, I object. They speak2 4 for themselves.

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    MR. KAFRISSEN: That's right, but what Iwant to know is he's assisting in -- thedoctor is assisting in the surgery so now doeshe look at the preoperative refraction priorto surge

    MS. / 1,

    '. WMAN: That's a differentquestion.

    MS. POST: Let me just in 1997 was ithis practice -- since he doesn't remember thissurgery, was it his practice, when assisting,to look at the preoperative refraction? I'lllet him answer that.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. You can answer that.A. Well. I don't know whether I always did, but I

    often would look at the notes on the patient to see whatthe patient's preoperative refraction was_Q. Okay. If you had a concern about the procedurebeing performed given the _preoperative refraction, isthat something that it would be your standard practiceand procedure to voice prior to the procedure beingperformed?A. Yes .Q. Okay. Do you know whether you had a concern

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    46Nevyas, M.D.

    1 laser?2 A. Yes. I might have been. I often, as part of3my assisting, while the surgeon was doing one thing, I4 aught hayeheen doing something

    .

    else, and those other5 things might have included checking the laser beam for6 the evenness of the beam, the fluence -- that is, the7 amount of power of the beam, and the centration -- I'm8 just -- yeah, yeah, the centration of the beam with the9 reticle of the microscope, yes. That would be part of

    10 the preparation of the laser, and other things I might do11 would be to prepare the regular keratome, and that had to12 be assembled and inspected carefully. The blades have to13 be inspected beforehand so I did those things to14 facilitate the surgery.15 Q. Okay. Tell me how you would help with16 centering of the beam.17 A. Well, would took through, the microscrope and18 make -- and have the laser set to a six millimeter wide19 ablation, circle six millimeters, which should fall right20 within one of the designated circles in the reticle in21 the eyepiece in the microscrope, and then by adjusting22 the final turning mirror of the laser, sitting at the23 microscrope, I would make sure that the laser ablation24 fell exactly within the centration reticle so that by

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    Nevyas, M.D.about Cheryl Fiorelli having this procedure given herpreoperative refraction?A. I don't think I would have a concern. I don'think I did at that time, certainly, because we had -- I

    have done considerably higher than that procedure -- thanhat amount at that time with very good results,-however,

    because of the general reports of some people havingproblems with very high ones, we're not doing them much

    higher than that now.Q. Much higher than what?A. Fifteen.Q. Oh, okay. When you're assisting in aprocedure, do you do an independent evaluation of thepatient prior to the surgery or is it the surgeon whodoes that?

    A. No. The surgeon does that.Q. When you're assisting I'mjust trying toigure out exactly what goes on, but, -I mean, is it

    essentially, when you're an assistant, the first time youome into contact with the procedure is when they're

    prepped and in the room?A . That's correct.

    MS. NEWMAN: Do you mean the person?MS. POST: The patient.

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    47

    Nevyas, M.D.1 centering the eye on a given point, the laser beam would2 be centered.3 Q. Okay. Now, would the surgeon recenter the beam4 or is it a process where both the surgeon and the5 assistant center the beam?6 A. No. It would be centered either for a given7 setting of the interpupillary distance of the8 microscrope, and I would leave her interpupillary9 distance in there and just -- it's a monocular procedure.

    10 Using the eyepiece that has the reticle, the left11 eyepiece, I would see that the beam is centered within.12 q. Okay. There is an eight -- it's actually a13 nose-pag_e document dated 3/20/97, that page one is the14 informed decision consent or refusal for laser -- it's15 basically the laser informed consent for the 3/2016

    procedure, and on page eight there is aphysician's17 signature. Page nine is actually a true/false quiz. Do18 you see that?19 A. Yes.20 Q. Page eight, whose signature is at the21 physician's signature?22 A. That is my signature.23 Q. Okay. And can you tell me how your signature24 came to be on the physician's signature for the informed

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    45Nevyas, M.D.

    MS. NEWMAN: You said the procedure.MR. KAFRISS EN: ThepatientMS. POST: Do you want to rephrase it.MR. KAFRISSEN: Let me rephrase it so

    it's clear.BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. The first time, as an assistant, that youeally come into contact with the person is when they arerepped and in the surgical area? -

    MS. POST: The patient.MR. KAFRISSEN: The patient.THE WITNESS: Yes.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. Are you aware of any calculation being maderior to surgery with regard to how much corneal tissue

    was to be remaining following the procedure?A. I am not.Q. Ls there anything in the records that indicateshat any such calculation was made that you've seen?

    A. I didn't notice, hut, again, I haven t xone

    hrough the records very carefully but I didn t notice.don t recall seeing any.Q. With regard to .the March 20, 1997 procedure, asn assistant, are you involved in the centering of the

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    I consent document.2 A. The informed consent documents are presented to3the patient and given the patient to take home and read,4 usually, and after the patient returns, one of the5 doctors is asked to sign the form. I probably .s igned it6 on the day of surgery because there was no signature7 there so -signed it, meaning that I had approved the8 fact that the patient had read and initialed everything:9 Q. Okay. The fact that you have signed it, does

    10 that indicate, as a matter of practice, that you have11 reviewed the consent form w ith the patient and explained12 the risks and alternatives to the procedure?13 A. No. It means that some physician has but it14 could be either of us.15 Q. Okay. Do you have any recollection of having16gone through the risks of the procedure or alternatives17 It) this procedure with Cheryl

    -Fiorelli?18 A. No. I have no recollection. That doesn't mean19 that I might not have discussed it with her if she had20 been in the office . I don't recall.

    21Q. Okay. There is a note on the operative form22 abou t the laser keratome stopping on its forward and its23 backward pass.24 A. Yes.

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    101 112131415161718 BY MR KAFRIS N:19 Q. Okay.20 A. Perhaps pass an instrument to the surgeon if21 the surgeon needed an instrument.22 At any time did you become aware that the March23 20 procedure was decentered?24 MS. POST: Objection to form. You can

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    52Nevyas, M.D.

    1preparing the microlteratome. In terms of the performance2 of the procedure and the post-op, is there anything that3 you as an assistant do?

    MS. POST: When you say post-op, youme an that day as o_pposed to a post-op visit.

    MR. KAFRISSEN: Right. Meaning in theopera ting_r_oom after the procedure ends.

    MS. ST: Okay.THE WITNESS: The procedure is in the

    hands of the surgeon and there isn't much theassistant does except observe and be there tobe called upon should there be any problems.Mostly, we re concerned about mechanicalproblems, laser problems, that might need ahand, but, no, during the actual procedureitself, there's nothing the assistant would dobut stand bs1

    evyas, M.D.

    49Nevyas, M.D.

    Q. Do you have any recollection of that havinghappened?A. No.Q. Can you tell me what significance, if any, thefact that the keratome is recorded as having stoppedthree-quarters of the way on forward and one-quarter ofthe way on the backward a.ss?

    MS. NEWMAN: Objection to form.MS. POST: You can answer.THE WITNESS: The significance is that

    the microkeratome that was in use at thattime, and is still in use pretty widely, had agear system which could sometimes hang upmomentarily, and if the laser hesitates, itcould create some unevenness in the cut makingthe corneal flap. The significance here isthat it stopped toward -- I don't know -- thethree-quarters was recorded either by thenurse or the optomestrist who was assisting,who obviously couldn't be looking in themicroscrope, -but it looked to theM as if ithesitated when it was pretty well through thepass. and, therefore it would have nosignificance really except to, you know, we

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    5Nevvas, M.D.

    note everything that happens in the procedure.No clinical sigruficance.

    BY MR. KAFRISSEN :Q. Okay. During the course of your treatment ofCheryl and the course of your follow-up visits for herright eye, did you ever record an irregular astigmatismn - her right eye?

    . POST: On his visits with her?MR. KAFRISSEN: Right.THE WITNESS: I don't recall that. I'd

    have to look throug_h all the records again. Idon't recall ever --I don't recall therebeing an irregular astigmatism. This would bepartly a function of the par topography. Thatwould be the only way we really could tell if

    there's irregular astigmatism. As I recall,the topography looks wonderful. I don't see

    BY MR. SSEN:anythm here that would suggest that.

    Q. Okay. Are you reviewing them?A. Yes, I am. Fm just looking to see whetherthere's anything that I would have noted with regard tony kind of astigmatism, irregular or otherwise. No, Idon't have anything that I can see here.

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    Q. Okay. Can the keratome stopping and therocedure being continued cause an irregular astigmatism?

    MS. NEWN1AN: Objection.MS. POST: Objection to form. At what

    point during the pass and it's on the forwardor backward pass? Are you talking under thesecircumstances where it's noted to bethree-quarters of the way through?

    M. KAFRISSEN: Yes.MS. NEWMAN: I would object to the form

    as including three-quarters of the way throughmeasurement because there's been testimonythat it was seven-eighths.

    MS. POST: With that in mind.BY MR. KAFRISSEN:Q. With what is written here.A. If the keratome would hesitate within theenter of the pupil. it could affect the vision, whethert would be irregular astigmatism or not. If itesitates outside of the pupillary area , it would have no

    ffect at all.Q. Okay. You had described the different thingsthat you may do as an assistant prior to the procedure inerms of the centering the beam, the power of the beam,

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    Nevyas, M.D.1 answer.2 THE WITNESS: I must say that3 decentration is a relative thing. Everybody4 is somewhat decentered and it's a question of5 whether it's clinically decentered or not.6 Very seldom are we utterly on zero, but from7 what I could see looking at the topographies,8 1 would say the centration here was not bad,9 pretty good, particularly looking at the

    10 subtraction topography that shows what1 1 Fiorelli's cornea looked like before and after12 and then subtracting it. From what I can see13 right here, it looks like a target to me.14 Its quite centered.15 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:

    16 Q. Can you show me which page you're referring to?17 A. This was the May 12 tcvography. There's a18 subtraction done on that date. The other dates there's19 no subtraction that I can see but there may be some.20 There's quite a few topographies.21 Q. You were referring to one --22 A. This is the page.23 Q. Oh, it's a May 12, 1997, number one. There are24 three...

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    Nevyas, M.D.1A. That's before, after and subtracted. The upper2 one is prior; the lower one is that date, and the one on3 the left is the computer subtracting them to show exactly4 what was done. This shows exactly 'tow thick the corneal

    5 area taken out was and exactly how much was taken out6 each position.7 Q. Okay. Now. after the March 21st surgery --8 MS. POST: March 20th.9 BY MR. KAFRISSEN:

    10 Q. -- March 20th surgery_, it looked like you had11 seen Miss Fioreili on the 21st for her first post-op12 visit; is that right?13 A. Yes.14 Q. Okay. And when you saw her on the 21st, can15 you tell me -- well, tell me what you did first.16 A. I examined her under the slitlamp. I put a17 drop of fluorozene seen in to see if the18 edges of the ablation were staining, the edges of the19 flap were staining.20 Q. And why would you do that?

    21 A. To see if the flap had obtained a good22 adherence.23 Q. And what did you find for that?24 A. Everything looked fine.

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