The Evolution of LASIK Treatments

The Evolution of LASIK Treatments
By Ryan Frank

Lasik eye surgery is incredibly popular today, but just a few decades ago it was a revolutionary innovation in the field of ophthalmology. Lasik is actually an acronym that stands for "laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis", and it was made possible first and foremost by the invention of the microkeratome in the 1950s by Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Barraquer. The microkeratome was a surgical instrument with an ultra precise oscillating blade that allowed doctors to cut thin flaps in the patient's cornea in order to alter its shape.

The invention of the first successfully tested laser in 1960 led to further development in laser technology. The Excimer laser was invented in the early 1970s and would be one of the key technologies that made laser eye surgery possible. The excimer ultraviolet laser was special because, unlike other lasers, it allowed for precision cuts without the need to burn through tissue. Rather, the excimer laser delivered enough energy to break molecular bonds in surface tissue, thus causing them to disintegrate into the air in a controlled manner rather than through burning.

The excimer laser's ability to remove extremely thin layers of surface material with almost no heat or damage to remaining material involved made it a perfect tool to use in extremely delicate eye surgery procedures. The microkeratome developed by Barraquer in 1950 was used to access the cornea, whereupon the excimer laser could then perform surgery on the exposed cornea.

This concept of using the microkeratome in combination with the excimer laser was pioneered by Dr. Palliakaris in 1992. The procedure became known as LASIK and it was instantly popular due to the immediate results it provided, as well as the fact that it involved much less pain and discomfort than previous eye surgery procedures.

LASIK Today

Today, the development of ever-faster and more precise lasers has made laser eye surgery a much more complex field than it used to be in the early 1990s. In addition to Lasik and epi-lasik procedures, IntraLase has added a new level of technology to traditional eye surgery. With IntraLase procedures, a laser blade is used instead of the metal microkeratome blade to cut the flap in the cornea. This results in improved precision and less eye irritation and post-surgery complications.