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History of Vision Correction

 

Although attempts to flatten the cornea were made during the 1800s, laser vision correction methods were crude.  It wasn't until the 1940s that Dr. Jose Barraquer, an eye surgeon in Colombia, began experimenting with changing corneal shape by creating flaps in the corneal surface.

During the 1950s and 1960s, refractive surgeries became more common although they were not nearly as accurate as modern procedures.

In the 1970s, ophthalmologists in the USSR invented Radial Keratotomy (RK), which came to the U.S. in 1978, where it became popular through the 1980s. In RK, a surgeon makes radial incisions to flatten the cornea using a finely-calibrated diamond micrometer. Although it is safe over the long-term, RK is still unpredictable for stable visual results.

In 1988, Dr. Luis Ruiz, a former student of Dr. Barraquer, created a technique called Automated Lamellar Keratoplasty (ALK), a forerunner of present-day LASIK.  In ALK, a small corneal flap was folded back and a surgical instrument used to remove tiny amounts of the underlying tissue before the flap was replaced.

With the refinement of laser technology in the 1980s, a cool laser, the Excimer laser, using ultraviolet light with little heat, replaced the surgical instrument.  Thus Photo Refractive Keratectomy (PRK) was developed as the first laser-based refractive surgery procedure, which produced a more precise treatment and stable visual result.

In the 1990s, the laser vision correction procedure was refined, being first performed in 1992 by Dr. Loannis Pillikaris in Greece. In 1995, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Excimer laser for use in PRK to correct nearsightedness, and approved the LASIK procedure in 1999, after a thorough investigation of its safety and effectiveness.

 

Present-Day LASIK

Since then, the two most important refinements of LASIK have been Iris Registration and Wavefront Guided LASIK. These allow for unprecedented precision and customization of LASIK surgeries, ensuring that no two LASIK surgeries are alike, as no two sets of eyes are alike.

At 20/20 Institute, we use only the most up-to-date Wavefront equipment, with Iris Registration, and can give you fast and accurate vision improvement to change your life for the better. Our facilities provide spa-like comfort, and our experienced staff and doctors work hard to make your time with us as comfortable and productive as possible.

Please call or email us to set up your complimentary vision evaluation. Have all your questions answered, look at our state-of-the-art facilities, and meet our world-class laser vision correction staff as they do their utmost to provide an outstanding life-enhancing experience at 20/20 Institute. We look forward to seeing you at the 20/20 Institute.