How LASIK Surgery Has Improved in 20 Years!

Refractive eye surgery was first discovered in the 1970s. However, it was not until 1995 that the use of LASIK surgery was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Today laser vision correction surgery has come a long way. Learn more about one of the most popular types of vision correction treatments that have been on the market for more than 20 years.

Advancements in Laser Vision Correction Surgery

Before LASIK surgery, there was photorefractive keratectomy or PRK surgery, which first used laser technology to reshape the cornea. The use of excimer laser technology has been approved by the FDA since 1995 for nearsightedness.

After PRK came LASIK, which first used a microkeratome blade to make to create the corneal flap which was followed up with the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. However, it wasn’t until 1999 that lasers would also be used in the LASIK procedure to make the corneal flap and to remove corneal tissue with a laser under the flap.  This further advancement in LASIK was due to the invention of the femtosecond laser, which is commonly used to make the corneal flap instead of the microkeratome blade. This advance known as “All-Laser LASIK” or Bladeless LASIK made the flap creation much safer and more accurate.

Further Improvements in LASIK

Today, a majority laser vision correction surgeons will use a femtosecond laser to make the corneal flap for All-Laser or Bladeless LASIK. After the corneal flap has been made, the precise amount of tissue to correct your vision will be ablated (vaporized) by the excimer laser in less than a minute.

Further improvements to LASIK include the use of Wavefront-guided LASIK (also known as “Custom LASIK”), which uses Wavefront technology to more accurately analyze your vision.  With these preoperative studies on your eyesight, your LASIK surgeon can more precisely reshape your cornea which leads to more accurate improvements in your vision while reducing the risks of undesirable side effects like halos, starbursts and glare.

What Else Does LASIK Treat in Patients Today?

Eye doctors can use LASIK eye surgery or another laser vision correction procedure to treat a variety of eye and vision correction issues. Along with astigmatism (blurry vision), this type of treatment is used for nearsightedness and farsightedness. It is also preferred as a permanent vision correction method. Most eye surgery patients no longer have to depend on eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to see clearly.

Please note, however, that vision problems related to reading smaller text is a condition known as presbyopia or cataracts, are typically not corrected with LASIK or other laser vision correction surgery.  New advancements, like the Kamra Inlay procedure, can help treat people who have presbyopia.

Why Wait When You Can Find an Expert LASIK Surgeon Today?

If you are interested in learning whether you are a good candidate for LASIK, you find a highly qualified LASIK surgeon today.

Find a highly qualified LASIK surgeon through our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory.  Once you find a surgeon closest to you, please contact them directly by calling them or filling out their contract form from their website from the links we provide.  All LASIK and cataract surgeons featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ are screened to ensure you can find a surgeon who has proven expertise and one with professional accomplishments that have been recognized by their peers. To learn how we screen surgeons, please visit our discussion entitled “How are surgeons screened at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™”?

Most of the LASIK surgeons at featured in our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory are also expert cataract surgeons and many perform other refractive procedures, like the Kamra Inlay, which can help with reading problems, lens implant procedures, and corneal transplants. 

Whatever vision problems you are experiencing, Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ is here to help you find the best vision correction experts in the United States.