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A Brief History of Laser Eye Surgery |
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Written by Webmaster
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By Dennis Tavies
 Radial Keratotomy
The history of laser eye surgery begins a little over 100 years ago when Lans, a Dutch Ophthalmology professor, explained the basic principles of keratotomy in 1898. A Japanese doctor named Sato did some pioneering trials with corneal incisions during the 1930s; however, many of his patients suffered from late corneal decomposition after the treatment.
In the 1970s Dr. Fyodorov of Russia put radial keratotomy into practice by treating a case of eye trauma. When a boy broke his glasses and suffered corneal lacerations, Fyodorov used this technique to treat the boy. The boy's vision returned better than before the injury. This success inspired Fyodorov to do some research on past efforts in this field.
His findings caught the attention of American ophthalmologist Dr. Leo Bores in 1978. He brought the technology to the United States after visiting Dr. Fyodorov in Russia. Since then, over 2 million people have received radial keratotomy in the United States alone.
But the discovery of certain limitations of radial keratotomy determined doctors to research alternative forms of eye surgery.
The
Excimer Laser
Another important step in the history of laser eye surgery was the introduction of the excimer laser. While working in the IBM research labs, Dr. Srinivasin was the first to discover its potential in interacting with biological tissue. Dr. Steven Trokel was the one to use it for the first time in reshaping corneal tissue. This laser device emits a cold beam that, when interacting with corneal tissue, destroys carbon-carbon bonds between molecules, causing tissue ablation.
With a proven high level of effectiveness and safety, the excimer laser has been used in refractive surgery worldwide since 1987. Millions of patients suffering from various eye conditions have undergone this procedure.
Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK)
Photorefractive keratectomy was the next important step in the history of laser eye surgery. The first PRK surgery was held in 1988 in Germany. Millions of surgeries have been performed since then all over the world.
Laser Assisted In-situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
LASIK is a more recent discovery in the history of laser eye surgery. The surgeon uses a blade to cut a flap of the cornea and then a laser to remove tissue underneath the flap. Compared to PRK, this procedure allows the cornea to remain mostly intact. The patients who undergo LASIK feel more comfortable and recover better and faster after surgery.
Surgeons have been performing LASIK for over 15 years. The first surgery was performed in United States trials in 1991; however, the main components of this procedure have a much longer history. Ophthalmologists have been using different methods to reshape the cornea for over 50 years, creating protective layers for over 40 years and using an excimer laser since the late '80s.
In 1996, the FDA approved the laser treatment for myopia up to -6.00 diopters. In 1997 this procedure was approved for treating astigmatism up to -4.00 diopters.
Recent progress in the history of laser eye surgery includes advanced procedures to overcome the risks associated with laser treatment. Current technologies such as IntraLense use an extra laser instead of a blade and provide better safety and faster recovery. Other techniques allow an advanced level of accuracy and predictability, increasing the chance for a successful procedure.
Dennis Tavies interviews patients after eye surgery and publishes his findings through a series of articles. Read more at Info 4 Eye Surgery. |
