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Laser Vision Correction: The Miracle of the 21st Century
Jack Sibley, my father, got his first pair of eye glasses in
first grade. His glasses were as thick as coke bottles in
every picture I have ever seen of him. Without his glasses he
could not even see the lint in his navel. Today he sees 20/20
without glasses.
My brother, Paul Sibley, M.D., a surgeon, got his first eye
glasses in junior high. He graduated to contact lenses a year
later. His vision was never clear, and his eyes were never
comfortable and always irritated. His eyes would dry out on
airplanes, and he feared losing a contact lens every time he
went scuba diving. Today his vision also is 20/20 without
glasses.
Both my father and brother used to joke about having to listen
to people on the beach to know which way to swim to shore when
they were in the ocean. They laugh about the "old days" when
they could not find their own beach towel coming out of the
water in Daytona Beach where we grew up. Now they sit around
comparing who has the best vision and whose eyes are more
"bionic." They laugh about the time they spent with "four
eyes" instead of two.
Besides being father and son, what they have in common is that
both of them decided to abandon their glasses (visual
crutches) with a treatment called refractive surgery.
Millions of people could soon be free of their glasses thanks
to refractive surgery. Vision correction with laser or R.K.
has become very simple, safe and successful. The treatment can
mean the end of cumbersome eye-wear (glasses or contact
lenses) for those with nearsightedness, farsightedness or
astigmatism.
Over 60 million Americans could receive this treatment. I
predict that refractive surgery will become the world's most
common surgical procedure within two years.
This could be called the "eye laser miracle." We are finally
reaching a point where people feel comfortable with the idea
of having it done.
There are three ways to get clear vision: eye glasses, contact
lenses, or refractive treatment. Refractive treatment options
have now increased. The three main procedures available are
R.K., P.R.K. (excimer laser) and LASIK.
Option one includes R.K. Using a diamond scalpel, the surgeon
makes a series of microscopic radial, spoke-like incisions.
There is no laser involved. There is a high success rate, but
this is limited to nearsightedness or astigmatism correction
only. This has been successfully performed in the United
States since 1978.
Option two is PRK (excimer laser). A computer-guided laser
vaporizes tissue across the surface of the cornea. It is as if
the contact lens prescription was being engraved on the
surface of the eye instead of wearing a contact lens. This was
approved by the FDA in 1995.
Option three is LASIK. The eye surgeon has to cut and lift the
thin, protective flap. The computer-guided laser then
vaporizes the tissue similar to PRK at this middle level and
the flap is repositioned in place.
The PRK and the LASIK can treat farsightedness in addition to
nearsightedness and astigmatism. The FDA just approved this in
July of 1999.
Laser vision correction/refractive surgery could free millions
from their glasses. My father and brother were two of those
patients. Fortunately, their results were 20/20 vision in both
eyes. Each one says, "I am seeing better than ever before."
In coming weeks we will discuss other miracles that help
restore vision and could prevent blindness. This may include a
new treatment to help everyone over 40 to throw away their
reading glasses when they get "old-sightedness," and their
arms get "too short" to read without glasses.
A reminder: January is Eye Health Care Month. Stay tuned here
for more important information about protecting your sight. |
