LASIK and Refractive Surgery Timeline

1936   Tsutomu Sato observes flattening of the cornea after traumatic eye injury

1948   Jose Barraquer begins using surgical techniques to reshape the cornea by removing a portion, freezing it, reshaping it with a lath, and then stitching back into the eye.  The portion removed is approximately proportionate to today's LASIK flap. 

1960's   radial keratotomy (RK) is developed by Russian Svyatoslav Fyodorov. 

1975-79   development of excimer laser technology

1983   Stephen Trokel describes use of excimer laser to remove corneal tissue

1987   Theo Seiler performs first excimer treatment on human eye

1991   Stephen Brint performs first LASIK Procedure

1995   FDA Approves excimer laser for refractive surgery (PRK) to correct myopia (nearsightedness) with or without astigmatism

1999   first excimer lasers approved for LASIK surgery

2000   FDA approves excimer laser for LASIK to correct hyperopia (farsightedness)

2002   Wavefront guided LASIK approved for custom correction

2002   IntraLase receives FDA approval for laser assisted creation of corneal flap