US Military Wavefront PRK Study Shows Superb Results

by David Shapiro, MD

“Customized Wavefront PRK is an area of extreme interest to the military” was how Captain Elizabeth Hoffmeister, MD put it after presenting superb results of customized wavefront PRK (flapless LASIK) at the American Academy of Ophthalmology annual meeting. Dr. Hoffmeister presented a recently completed US Military study of 334 eyes of 167 patients undergoing customized […]

LASIK Invented 30 Years Ago, FDA Approved 20 Years Ago

by David Shapiro, MD

In 1989, 30 years ago this year, the US Patent and Trademark Office awarded a patent for peforming LASIK to Gholam Peyman, MD. This patent represented nearly 100 years of evolution of eye surgery to correct vision. I had the opportunity to assist on the first case of LASIK in the Western United States, performed […]

Eye Drops to Cure Reading Glasses (Presbyopia)?

by David Shapiro, MD

PRESBYOPIA: THE NEED FOR READING GLASSES FROM AGING Presbyopia — or “aging of the eye” — is the age-related loss of our ability to see up close. It happens to everyone eventually, typically starting around age 40 and progressing gradually until the early 60’s. It is caused by the lens inside the eye getting physically […]

Low Physical Activity, Screen Device Time Linked To Myopia

by David Shapiro, MD

What Causes Myopia (Nearsightedness)? Nature More Than Nurture? Genetics More Important Than Environment in Becoming Nearsighted? Previous studies have suggested that there is a strong genetic component to why children become nearsighted as they grow into adulthood. A study from 2003, for example, suggested that genes are the main factor in determining who developes nearsightedness […]

LASIK vs Lens Exchange (RLE): No Rush

by David Shapiro, MD

LASIK and PRK vs REFRACTIVE LENS EXCHANGE (RLE) FOR VISION CORRECTION In patients who are in their mid-50s or older, the question often comes up whether to correct vision by LASIK or by refractive lens exchange (RLE). LASIK involves reshaping the outter side of the cornea with an extremely precise laser beam and does not […]