FDA To Investigate Quality Of Life Problems Following LASIK Eye Surgery

The US Food and Drug Administration has launched a collaborative study to investigate the potential impact of Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery on patients' quality of life. The project will seek to establish the proportion of LASIK patients in the US who experience significant post-procedure quality of life problems such as blurred vision and dry eyes.

The FDA announced the launch of the LASIK Quality of Life Collaboration Project on Thursday. The agency will be collaborating with the National Eye Institute and the US Department of Defense.

source: Medical News Today

Laser technology may soon be used for corneal transplants

SINGAPORE: In what could be a medical breakthrough in Singapore, corneal transplants may soon be carried out using laser technology instead of by hand.

You've probably heard of Lasik surgery to correct short-sightedness. That same technology could be used to perform corneal transplants.

Clinical trials are underway and the Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC) hopes to offer it to patients within a year.

Professor Donald Tan, director of Singapore National Eye Centre, said: "Being able to use the laser to do most of the surgery means far greater precision, accuracy and that will immediately translate into much better vision, much better results and also of course, the surgery will be much easier."

SNEC is collaborating with a team in Italy and it hopes that some 80% to 90% of corneal transplants can eventually be performed with laser.

source: ChannelNewsAsia