Modern Lasik

“They just don’t make it like they used to.” How true, how true! And for a lot of areas such as LASIK eye surgery, that’s a good thing!

Modern ophthalmology seems to make advances in technology and procedures almost daily. It isn’t quite that fast but changes and improvements do happen a lot. In fact, the changes in LASIK eye surgery over the past 10 or 20 years have been staggering. Here’s a history lesson so you can see for yourself (pun intended!).

· The Japanese and the Europeans saw the potential of radial keratotomy (precision diamond-blade cuts to the cornea) as early as the 1930’s

· Spanish ophthalmologist, Jose Barraquer, developed the first microkeratome (surgical instrument with an oscillating blade) in the early 1950’s

· The concept of reshaping the cornea by shaving off an ultra-thin layer was pioneered by Dr. Syvatoslov Fyodorov of the former USSR in the 1970’s. His published discoveries allowed American doctors, who could get the necessary funding, to pursue the concept further

· In the early 1970’s, Dr. Mani Lal Bhaumik of the University of California helped develop and patent the excimer laser (ultraviolet laser) and it became the foundation of actual LASIK eye surgery

· The 1980’s saw the development of PRK (photorefractive keratotomy) by Theo Seiler of Germany

· LASIK surgery was developed in 1990 by combining two previously-known techniques: keratomileusis (a thin flap is cut on the eye surface and the cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser) and PRK, which allowed for greater precision in correcting the shape of the cornea and providing clearer vision

Today, a host of improvements such as faster lasers, bladeless flap incisions and wavefront technologies have significantly improved the reliability of all laser eye surgeries. Other types of laser vision correction include:

· LASEK: an ultra-fine blade is used and a bandage contact may be required post-surgery; designed for those who are not good LASIK candidates

· Epi-LASIK: a cross between LASIK and LASEK; designed for those who have less steep myopia

· Wavefront Technology: revolutionizes eye examines, providing far more accurate screenings and knowledge of eye health

· Intraocular lens implants: pliable implants designed for use in the treatment of cataracts

If you have any vision problems at all, it will be worth your time to consult an experienced laser eye surgeon to find out which treatment can help your specific issue. Who doesn’t want to be able to see everything clearly and be able to truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds us every day? You’ll be glad “they don’t make it like they used to!”