Andy's mother recently had laser eye surgery. He interviewed his mom about her experience and you may hear the interview by clicking on the above picture of the Laser. If you cannot hear the interview click here to see the printed version.

A laser is device that produces a thin beam of light that can burn a hole in a diamond or carry signals. Laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. It is used in communication, industry, medicine, military and scientific research.

Laser eye surgery could be a very important factor in the next few years. This is a method in which eye vision is corrected. As you probably know it is done with a very fine laser. It is not like shooting a laser. This device can make a cut in your hair without cutting it off.
 

This is a picture of Dr. Theodore Maiman.

History
Refractive surgery, which is laser surgery, has been around for almost 100 years. Lans, a Dutch professor, set out the basic principles of radial keratotomy in 1898. In Japan, Sato, did similar work with corneal incisions in the 1930's. But the real application of refractive surgery was used by a Russian, Dr. Fyodorov. The doctor using this procedure treated a boy whose glasses broke and had caused corneal lacerations. He noticed the boy's eyesight was improved and he proceeded to do research. Dr. Leo Bores brought the technology to the United States after visiting Fyodorov in the Soviet Union. Lasers are possible because light interacts with electrons in a certain way. In 1960 Theodore Maiman invented the first laser known as a ruby laser. There are many types of lasers such as solid state, gas, semiconductor, liquid (dye) or Excimer laser. The type of laser that is used in laser eye surgery is the Excimer laser. Dr. Steven Trokel first used this laser on the cornea. This laser emits a non-thermal, cold beam that interacts with the corneal tissue.

Now

As of 1994 over 1,000,000 people have had this surgery.To correct your vision the doctors take off the layer that protects your eye and then very carefully uses the laser that is programmed to effect the certain degree of your eye. Laser eye surgery just started recently and one of the most famous laser eye surgery doctor is Dr. Delaruso.

Later

As doctors perform more surgery, risks will be reduced and high cost will come down. Perhaps one day people who lost their eyesight will be able to have the sight restored. Maybe even blind people could have this surgery and have the ability to see for the first time. Who knows what could happen next? Scientists may find ways to permanently improve your hearing or your sense of smell.