The Evolution of Laser Eye Surgery: How LASIK Technology Has Advanced

Today, LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) surgery is such a commonly practised technique that it is hard to imagine there was ever anything else. For many, it is a natural progression from contact lenses and glasses, while for others, it’s the only choice due to their chosen profession.  

In this article, we will examine how LASIK technology came about, as well as the nature of the treatments before the invention of lasers within the eye care field.

The Beginnings of Laser Eye Surgery

In the 1890s, Dr. Lendeer Jans Lans, a Dutch doctor of ophthalmology, had the idea for refractive surgery to correct some vision impairments. By somehow adjusting the corneal structure itself, the shape could be corrected to improve vision.

The idea itself had great merit, but lacking the technological means and medicinal care afterwards meant that the procedure was not attempted in the beginning. Still, this idea led others to develop and refine the techniques.

Then, along came Dr. Tsutomu Tsato in the 1930s. His research was based on that of Dr. Jans Lans and involved making small radial cuts in the cornea. Unfortunately, because of the previously stated lack of medical knowledge and care following such a procedure, it did not lead to the best results.

The 1960s was a time for revolutionary medical advancements. During this period, an ophthalmologist by the name of Dr. Jose Ignacio Barraquer was also exploring a technique to improve certain vision ailments. However, his work took a different direction from that of Dr. Lendeer Jans Lans.

Dr. Barraquer began to develop a process that involved freezing the eye, removing a section of the cornea, reshaping it, and then replacing it in precise ways. His work eventually led to photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and LASIK.

This work opened the door for Dr. Svyatoslov N. Fyodorov, a Russian ophthalmologist who took the procedure and technique even further later in the 1970s.

Dr. Fyodorov followed the same research, but expanded on it and developed the procedure of radial keratotomy (RK), thus laying the groundwork for future techniques and practices.

The Advancements of Laser Eye Surgery

Although laser technology had been in use since the 1960s and popular science fiction TV shows of the period (such as Star Trek and Doctor Who) hinted at what they could do, it was not until the late 1980s that the first ever laser eye corrective surgery was performed. By this point, the process had undergone many years of research and development. 

In March of 1988, in the United States in the State of Louisiana, Dr. Marguerite McDonald and her research team (which included Stephen Trokel) performed the first photorefractive keratectomy procedure on the damaged eye of a 62-year-old cancer patient who volunteered for the surgery.

The patient’s recovery was closely monitored, and it was eventually determined that the surgery was a success. Thus, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) began allowing further trial procedures on blind humans.

LASIK and PRK Treatments

In 1995, the FDA authorized the commercial form of laser eye surgery treatment. It was during the trial phase of PRK treatment that further developments resulted in modern-day LASIK eye surgery.

PRK treatment is focused on the surface of the eye. The surface is removed and then the cornea is reshaped using a laser. The eye must then heal slowly on its own. However, this can open it up to the risk of infection. Therefore, additional care is taken during the recovery process.

This type of surgery can treat patients with nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as those with astigmatism. It can also treat one eye to make it better for seeing objects far away, while treating the other eye so you can see things up close. (This is known as the monovision technique.)

LASIK treats patients with eye conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, and/or astigmatism. The procedure involves cutting a flap in the cornea, lifting it, and then shaping the cornea with a precision laser. The flap is then replaced. 

The advantages of LASIK include fewer complications, less discomfort, a quicker healing time, and faster vision recovery. It is also minimally invasive compared to other procedures. 

LASIK and PRK share many similarities and benefits, but as time went on, LASIK has become the leading treatment of choice for many.

Contact the LASIK Eye Surgery Professionals at Clearview Vision Institute

In modern times, laser eye surgery has developed and been perfected as much as the current technology will allow. With these state-of-the-art lasers, ophthalmologists can control and have the ultimate precision when it comes to the removal of the surface of the eye.

Whether it is reshaping the corneal structure with the smallest incisions, or creating a flap, pulling it back, making the incisions, and then replacing the flap to encourage and promote faster healing, lasers allow for much more. 

At Clearview Vision Institute, our eye care team can assess your needs and then recommend the right type of LASIK eye surgery, as there are now a few options for this revolutionary technique. 

If you have any questions about LASIK eye surgery, you can call Clearview Vision Institute at 416-445-8439 or visit us online and book an appointment with someone from our team of experts.