Researchers have developed a promising laser-free alternative to LASIK eye surgery that uses electrical current to reshape the cornea, potentially offering a safer and more cost-effective vision correction method. The technique, called electromechanical reshaping (EMR), was presented at the American Chemical Society's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., by scientists from Occidental College and UC Irvine School of Medicine.
Novel Approach to Vision Correction
The EMR technique represents a significant departure from conventional LASIK surgery, which has treated more than 10 million people in the U.S. since its 1999 approval. While LASIK uses high-power lasers to make incisions and remove tissue from the cornea, EMR reshapes the eye's outer surface without any cutting or tissue removal.
"The whole effect was discovered by accident," said Dr. Brian Wong, a surgeon at UC Irvine School of Medicine and co-developer of the technique. "I was looking at living tissues as moldable materials and discovered this whole process of chemical modification."
The method exploits the natural properties of collagen-containing tissues like the cornea, which are held in place by oppositely charged components that attract each other. When researchers apply electrical current to these water-containing tissues, the pH becomes more acidic, unlocking the attraction between charged components and making the tissue temporarily moldable.
Promising Laboratory Results
In laboratory tests using rabbit eyes, the research team led by Michael Hill, a chemist at Occidental College, created a platinum contact lens template shaped like a corrected cornea. When placed over rabbit eyeballs in saline solution and subjected to electrical current, the corneas molded around the contact lens within approximately one minute—matching the timeframe of LASIK surgery.
The researchers tested this method on 12 rabbit eyeballs, with 10 treated as if they had myopia or nearsightedness. The treatment successfully reshaped the cornea in a way that would better focus light on the retina, and importantly, the cells in the eyeballs were not damaged during the process.
Potential Advantages Over LASIK
EMR could address several limitations of current laser eye surgery. Unlike LASIK, which can have side effects including eye pain, irritation, and in rare cases, compromised structural integrity from laser incisions, EMR avoids heat transfer to the cornea entirely.
"You can't treat every single problem of the cornea with LASIK, there are areas where it simply doesn't have application," Wong explained. "So I think there are areas where this would have value complementing LASIK."
The technique may also be reversible since it rearranges rather than removes tissue. Additionally, EMR equipment would be significantly cheaper than laser equipment, potentially making vision correction accessible to more patients.
Broader Applications
Beyond treating common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, the researchers believe EMR might address conditions currently requiring more invasive treatments. The method could potentially reverse cloudiness in the cornea, which is currently only treatable through corneal transplant.
Hill and Wong have previously demonstrated EMR's versatility by using it to reshape rabbit ears and alter scars on pigs' skin, approaches they plan to develop for eventual human use.
Path to Clinical Application
Despite promising early results, the technology remains in very early preclinical stages. Maria Walker, an optometrist at the University of Houston, noted that while the initial tests show the procedure is safe for eye cells and maintains corneal clarity, longer-term effects require investigation.
"It might be safe and the cornea might be clear, but then what happens in a month?" Walker questioned, though she described her impression as "cautiously optimistic."
The research team faces a lengthy development process ahead. "There's a long road between what we've done and the clinic," Hill acknowledged. "But, if we get there, this technique is widely applicable, vastly cheaper and potentially even reversible."
Wong emphasized the rigorous testing required: "Like any other medical technology it's a process, and you have to go through a fair amount of testing." This includes extensive animal studies, resolving any emerging issues, and eventually progressing through various phases of human clinical trials.
The team is currently preparing for detailed animal studies while seeking the scientific funding necessary to advance their research toward potential clinical applications.
