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New eye surgery uses implants to fix nearsightedn ess
March 6, 1997
Web posted at: 11:42 p.m. EST (0442 GMT)
From Corresponde nt Al Hinman
ATLANTA (CNN) -- After a lifetime of peering through eyeglasses or contact lenses, Ralph Malone's world finally is in focus.
"You're seeing 20-20 vision now, without correction, which is excellent," ophthalmologist Dr. George Waring tells Malone after performing experimental eye surgery.
Eye surgery(37 sec. /1.4M Small QuickTime movie)
(37 sec. /1.4M Large QuickTime movie)
Corneal ring surgery uses tiny plastic implants to help reshape the cornea. Doctors believe the operation could correct the vision of most patients with low to moderate nearsightedness -- perhaps as much as one-quarter of the U.S. population.
Nearsighted people can see objects close-up, but strain to see father away.
Unlike other popular procedures that permanently cut or reshape the cornea with knives or lasers, the new the new procedure appears to be fully reversible.
"If the vision isn't right afterwards, or there is a complication of some sort, the ring can be removed from the eye, and the eye returns to its original shape," Waring said.
No hospital stay
The new surgery is quick -- only about 15 minutes -- and can be done with local anesthesia on an outpatient basis.
To start the proced ure, Waring marks precisely where to cut the cornea. Then, after cutting two "channels," he carefully inserts the tiny, transparent plastic, ring-like pieces.
Ophthalmologists at the Emory Vision Correction Center in Atlanta and 10 other cent ers are in the final phase of research trials. They hope to win approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the next year for widespread use of the operation.
The new procedure should cost about the same as laser reshaping, or about $4,500.
Doctors don't envision the surgery replacing other corrective operations, but it will give patients another option. Once t he corneal ring surgery is completed and the rings are in place, the vision doesn't change, Waring said.
For Malone, that should mean near-perfect vision for years to come.
Related sites:
Note: Pages will open in a new browser window- Eye Care & Surgery Center : Home
- S.E.E. International: Bringing Sig ht to Life!
- Emory Vision Correction Center
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