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Over 30 years ago, doctors in Russia performed the first successful refractive surgery, RK (radial keratotomy)
by placing peripheral radial incisions in the cornea (the clear, dome-like structure overlying the colored part
of the eye). By doing this, they flattened the cornea and moved the focal point of the nearsighted eye further
back where it needed to be focused for distance vision to be clear without eyeglasses. Although the results were
generally satisfactory, especially for mildly nearsighted patients, the desire for more precise results and the
ability to treat higher degrees of nearsightedness along with astigmatism and farsightedness kept researchers busy
looking for alternatives
The first breakthrough came in the mid 1980's with the development of the excimer laser. This laser, when used
in a LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis) procedure, was able to vaporize layers of the cornea only a
few microns thick without leaving behind any scarring. In this way, doctors could flatten areas of the cornea
in a much more precise and predictable manner than they were ever able to achieve with RK. It also enabled them
to treat astigmatism and farsightedness in addition to nearsightedness.
With the recent development of "wave-front" LASIK in the last few years, most ophthalmologists believe the 30
year quest to accurately and safely eliminate eyeglasses or contact lenses for most patients has reached it's
conclusion. Over 99% of the patients whom have had LASIK done at Marietta Eye Clinic are now virtually
spectacle-free.
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