The History of Laser Eye Surgery


History of Laser Eye SurgeryRefractive surgery has been investigated for over 100 years.  In 1898, Lans a Dutch professor of Ophthalmology, laid out the basic principles of radial keratotomy, which involves making incisions in the cornea using a knife.  In Japan in the 1930’s, Sato completed some pioneering work with corneal incisions.  Incisions were placed in the endothelial surface of the cornea and the epithelial surface, but this technique resulted in late corneal decompensation for many patients.

Whilst studying eye trauma in the 1970’s Dr. Fyodorov of Russia, brought about the practical application of refractive surgery through radial keratotomy.  Fyodorov was treating a boy whose glasses had broken, causing corneal lacerations.  After surgery, the boy’s refraction was significantly less myopic (near sighted) than prior to the injury.  Fyodorov then researched the results further and then worked out a formula, which made this procedure more predictable.  This procedure was brought to America by Dr. Leo Bores after he visited Fyodorov in the Soviet Union.  However, limitations of radial keratotomy prompted research into alternative forms of refractive surgery.

The Ophthalmologist Dr. Steven Trokel, finally introduced the laser to the eye tissue.  He found that the laser emits a non-thermal, cold beam that upon interaction with corneal tissue, breaks the carbon-carbon bonds between molecules, causing tissue ablation.  Millions of people have since benefited from laser eye surgery. 

The first patient to have laser eye surgery using the PRK method was in Germany in 1988.  LASIK laser eye surgery was first performed in U.S. clinical trials in 1991 but the components of the procedure have a long history with excimer lasers being used since the 1980s.

1st May 2008

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