Introduction
Richard
L. Lindstrom, MD, Senior Author
Robert
Edward T. Ang, MD, Nicole
J. Anderson, MD, Dimitri
T. Azar, MD,
Elizabeth
A. Davis, MD, David
R. Hardten, MD, FACS, Mike
P. Holzer, MD,
Elias
F. Jarade, MD, Douglas
D. Koch, MD, Anthony
J. Lombardo, MD, PhD,
Helga
P. Sandoval, MD, Kerry
D. Solomon, MD, Li
Wang, MD, PhD
Refractive surgery has been responsible for some of the fastest growth in technology and surgery in the field of ophthalmology. Surgical procedures have enabled millions of people to free themselves from glasses and contact lenses. Refractive surgery is rapidly developing newer, safer, and more precise equipment and techniques, and patients now have many options.
The first module describes the various surgical options available and in development for the correction of myopia and myopic astigmatism. Laser surgeries, incisional surgeries, intrastromal ring segments, phakic intraocular lenses, and refractive lensectomy are discussed, as is bioptics, an increasingly popular procedure that combines more than one refractive surgical modality. Surgical techniques for treating mixed astigmatism are also discussed.
The second and third modules describe the surgical procedures available and in development for hyperopia and hyperopic astigmatism and for presbyopia. The fourth module discusses the diagnostic tools used in refractive surgery, including refraction, corneal topography, pachymetry, pupillometry, and wavefront technology.
The fifth module analyzes the demographics of current and potential refractive surgery patients. As this surgery is elective and a potential source of significant revenue, surgeons have begun advertising their services-a practice heretofore almost unknown in medicine. Knowledge of market trends in refractive surgery has contributed to the understanding of the economics of this field.
The final module addresses the viable alternatives to refractive surgery: spectacles and contact lenses. Orthokeratology is also addressed.
Although no text on the subject could ever be complete, it is our hope
that this overview will provide the reader with current information on
the ever-evolving field of refractive surgery.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3 hour(s) in category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the activity.
Release Date—October 2002
Module 1: Myopia, Myopic Astigmatism, and Mixed Astigmatism
Module 2: Refractive Surgery for Hyperopia and Hyperopic Astigmatism
Module 3: Surgery for Presbyopia
Module 5: Demographics of Refractive Surgery Patients and Market Trends