Important Years:
1960- Dr Jose Barraquer of Colombia developed Radial Keratotomy (RK)became the first type of surgical correction to become popular. It was first developed in 1989 and then improved in the 1960s. RK was designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness.) It was performed by having the surgeon make several small incisions in the surface of the cornea that then caused the cornea to flatter out, changing to focus point of the light.
1970- Development of excimer laser and another surgical procedure called Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). It supposedly corrected myopia, hyperopia and astigmatsim. It was also the first ever technique that used a laser rather than a blade.
1990- Excimer laser was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. Treatments of PRK began. Also in this year, eye Doctor Buratto of Italy and eye Doctor Pallikaris of Greece combined RK and PRK techniques, creating the basic concept of LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis).
1999- LASIK was approved.
1960- Dr Jose Barraquer of Colombia developed Radial Keratotomy (RK)became the first type of surgical correction to become popular. It was first developed in 1989 and then improved in the 1960s. RK was designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness.) It was performed by having the surgeon make several small incisions in the surface of the cornea that then caused the cornea to flatter out, changing to focus point of the light.
1970- Development of excimer laser and another surgical procedure called Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). It supposedly corrected myopia, hyperopia and astigmatsim. It was also the first ever technique that used a laser rather than a blade.
1990- Excimer laser was approved by Health Canada for the treatment of myopia and astigmatism. Treatments of PRK began. Also in this year, eye Doctor Buratto of Italy and eye Doctor Pallikaris of Greece combined RK and PRK techniques, creating the basic concept of LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis).
1999- LASIK was approved.