The history of laser eye surgery, from accident to routine

In the early 1980s researchers found that an excimer laser could remove tissue with extraordinary precision and almost no thermal damage to surrounding material. The application to the cornea followed quickly.

PRK and LASIK

Photorefractive keratectomy reshaped the corneal surface directly. LASIK created a thin flap first, giving faster, more comfortable recovery, and became the dominant procedure worldwide.

The lessons of the 1990s

Early enthusiasm outpaced screening. Cases of ectasia in corneas that were too thin or too irregular taught the profession that patient selection matters more than laser power.

Modern practice

Corneal topography, thickness mapping and dry eye assessment now exclude unsuitable candidates before treatment. Results in properly screened patients are excellent and stable.

What laser cannot fix

Laser reshapes the cornea; it does nothing about a cataract or the loss of reading focus with age. Once the natural lens is the problem, a lens-based procedure is the answer.

What this means if you are considering surgery in the UK

New technology only helps when it is matched to the right eye. Ms Tahmina Pearsall FRCOphth is a UK consultant ophthalmic surgeon on the GMC specialist register with more than 40,000 eye procedures performed, and she assesses every patient personally before recommending anything. If laser eye surgery suitability is relevant to you, a consultation will tell you whether it changes your options — or whether a simpler, better-established treatment gives you a safer result.

Book a consultation with Ms Pearsall

Consultations are available at clinics across the UK, including London Harley Street, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Reading and Southampton. You can book a consultation, arrange a free 15-minute call, see treatment prices, read verified patient reviews or find your nearest clinic.