How does laser eye surgery work? - Dan Reinstein

Explore the eye-opening science of LASIK: corrective laser eye surgery that focuses on reshaping the cornea to fix blurry vision.

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In 1948, Spanish ophthalmologist Jose Ignacio Barraquer Moner was fed up with glasses. He wanted a solution for blurry vision that fixed the eye itself, without relying on external aids. The surgery he eventually devised was called “keratomileusis,” and his technique focused on reshaping the cornea— what we now know as LASIK. So how does laser eye surgery actually work? Dan Reinstein explains.

Lesson by Dan Reinstein, directed by Hype CG.

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[mithramusic]

I got lasik. I was in the chair for literally minutes, then went home and napped for two hours, and when i woke up my vision was better than 20/20 and haven't had any pain or side effects whatsoever since waking up. It's almost unbelievable

[rash]

Imagine being the first person he operated on

[purplespark]

In these kind of techniques, it's always the doctors/surgeons shown to be the ones placed in front .. but let's not forget the scientists and engineers who actually make all this possible. Thumbs up to them!

[vinagnihotri]

I got chills when narrator said "he would be slicing part of cornea, dunk in liquid nitrogen and shape it using a lathe and put back in"
Its really amazing how people came up with such methods without very high precision tools that we find today. Hats off.

[KaliTakumi]

Missed opportunity to say "get to know the three different tiers of tears" at the end

[YoungTheFish]

Wait, so I don't get to shoot laser out of my eyes after the surgery!?

[deepakha]

The first person on whom Barraquer operated on had balls of steel!!!

[beefernando]

I got my lasik surgery 3 years ago. Do you know how it feels like to be able to see without glasses or contact lenses? It felt like a miracle to me 😃

[harmonialarts]

I always wondered how the heck laser eye surgery was invented.

[Lolboyyyy]

Nobody:
TedEd: *Did you know that you're crying right now?*

[日本人-cg]

When i first heard about it I thought they just pointed a laser into ur eye and u magically got ur vision back my disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined.

[Menroth.]

I still remember getting the operation done 10 or so years ago. It was one of the best experiences ever going from blurry indistinct images to crisp vision after just 15 minutes in the surgery.

[_nishantj_]

People who don't have to wear eye-glasses are lucky af

[dexter]

3:11 When he mentions the blade, my heart stopped.

[BlackWolf]

Had LASIK over a decade ago. Best money spent!

[MohitVerma-ulrv]

I'm so glad I went for the surgery last week. The joy I felt after seeing the world without glasses is something I can't describe in words. It was all so overwhelming. Science has truly done wonders. I'm mad at myself for not doing it sooner. Been postponing this 15 mins surgery from the last 4-5 years.

[ejmtv]

Barraquer: So this is your cornea.

Patient: WTF! Put it back!

*proceeds to dunk it in liquid N*

[bumpom]

I’m watching this with my glasses on and planning to get one in the future. Once again, thanks ted ed!

[Rfd]

I got the laser surgery 6 months ago. By far one of the best decision I've made in my life

[samarthsuresh]

I'm getting my LASIK Surgery done day after tomorrow. Anxious and excited! Can't wait to see how beautiful the world is without any barriers in between :)