When doctors first started looking at treating routine eye disorders with lasers over twenty-five years ago, all incisions were much the same. Lasers provided more precision and were far more predictable than the human hand, and it consequently eliminated much of the worry that went into eye surgeries.

One of the most interesting things to come out of all the research was that a device being used by IBM to etch computer chips was also something that could have medical applications. That was the excimer. It is now twenty years into being one of the most important devices used in eye surgeries, and its precision, control and safety is used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism day in and day out. Its ability to remove corneal tissue with extreme accuracy makes it well suited for many procedures, and its precision allows the removal of much less tissue than before. This type of laser surgery produces a cool or non thermal type of light beam and almost all the heat it produces is released into the air making for less discomfort to the patient. The lack of heat lessens the possibility of thermal damage to any of the surrounding tissue and is ideal for corneal surgery.

The excimer is yet another stage of the progression in laser technology for eye procedures, and while it has been remarkable now for years, there is no doubt there are researchers out there who are trying to up the ante and make something that works even better. Just as the NYC doctor who made the connection between IBMs etcher and how it could be used for eye surgery, there are yet others making other connections.

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