Lasik Surgery: Born the Day after Thanksgiving

It was the day after Thanksgiving in 1981, and like most others across the nation, Rangaswamy “Sri” Srinivasan, a researcher at IBM’s Thomas J. Watson Research Center in New York, had brought some turkey to work. The difference between Srinivasan and everyone else was that the scientist had no plans to eat the leftovers. He was planning to fire a laser at them!

It  was a landmark decision, which transformed into laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, and photorefractive keratectomy, or PRK, the refractive eye surgery techniques that have been used worldwide for 20 years to correct the eyesight of more than 30 million people. Read more.

FDA Warns 5 ECPs about Their Lasik Promotions

Law 360 reports that “the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday it had warned five eye care providers to stop their allegedly misleading promotion of refractive lasers used in Lasik surgeries, saying the companies failed to provide adequate warnings about risks and could face penalties if they don't shape up.” Read more.

Avedro Holds Iontophoresis License

Avedro will hold the exclusive license to EyeGate Pharma’s iontophoresis patents in the field of corneal collagen cross-linking, according to a press release. When cross-linking is used to treat degenerative keratoconus or post-LASIK ectasia, the corneal epithelium is commonly removed to allow riboflavin to penetrate into the cornea. Removal of the epithelium causes patient discomfort for up to 24 hours and a transient reduction in vision as the epithelium regrows. Iontophoresis can potentially deliver riboflavin into the cornea without the need to remove the epithelium. Read more.

New Multifocal Lens for Post-LASIK Patients

"Art Optical is pleased to introduce CLASIKcn, a new custom GP multifocal lens designed for the growing number of post-LASIK patients struggling with near-vision demands," reports Eye Surf. "The lens features front surface, center-near technology specifically designed to provide a full range of simultaneous vision for post-LASIK corneas. CLASIKcn is a great option for those finding their surgically induced modified mono effect becoming inefficient as they advance in presbyopia, or for any post-refractive surgery patient encountering presbyopic progression." Read more.

Eye Doc Promises Free Lasik to NFL Replacement Refs

"Monday night's dramatic last-minute loss to the Seattle Seahawks has many Green Bay Packers fans wondering if the referees have eye trouble," reports KPLC. "That's why a Wisconsin eye care provider wants to help the NFL referee who made the game-deciding call see more clearly. Dr. Christopher Smith is offering free Lasik surgery to the replacement referees who officiated Monday night's game." Read more.

More on the Balotelli Surgery

"The 22-year-old underwent the minor operation, a day earlier than expected so as to avoid the paparazzi, after recently suffering from conjunctivitis associated with wearing contact lenses. Balotelli's surgeon has suggested he could return "in around 10 days" meaning he would be touch-and-go to be back in time for City's trip to the Britannia Stadium on September 15," according to Yahoo!Sports. "'He had a few problems with contact lenses some years ago," surgeon Emanuele Scuri reportedly told Sky Sport Italia. We waited for the defect to stabilise over the last four years and this was the right time to have the operation. His eyes did not tolerate the contact lenses and had problems at the start of the season.'" Read more.

Balotelli's Lasik Surgery a Success

Fox Soccer reports that "Italy and Manchester City forward Mario Balotelli has undergone successful Lasik eye surgery. The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Balotelli had the procedure Monday, a day earlier than scheduled, to avoid having photographers and reporters waiting for him outside the laser surgery clinic in his hometown of Brescia." Read more.

Third Baseman Sandoval Undergoes Lasik

"Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giant had Lasik eye surgery this week. According to an interview with Sandoval, he has been experiencing a problem with his left eye for over a year.  For a baseball player, that can mean serious problems at the diamond-shaped work place," according to an About post. "Sandoval's taking a risk, but not a crazy one.  Any surgery has risks and this one had the potential to make his vision perfect, or to cause new issues and/or fail to correct the problem he currently has.  He's already tried the less invasive methods of contact lenses and goggles, but finally felt the need  to have LASIK eye surgery.  Sandoval's approach has been a prudent one, considering that his vision will make or break his career." Read more.

FDA Warns Lasik Providers about False Claims

"The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is once again cracking down on eye care professionals who make false safety claims and promises about the popular Lasik eye surgery," says the DoctorsLounge. "The agency's Letter to Eye Care Professionals, issued this week, follows an earlier warning from May of 2009. In its latest salvo against deceptive, potentially harmful advertising, the FDA is now giving eye doctors 90 days to get in line and update any advertising or promotional materials that make false claims. After this time, the agency will take regulatory action, said FDA spokeswoman Erica Jefferson." Read more.

Lasik Takes a Tumble

OSNSuperSite reports that "the volume of  Lasik/PRK performed each year in the United States has fallen significantly during the current economic slowdown, from about 1.2 million procedures a year to about 750,000 projected for 2011." Read more.