Advancements in Optical Technology and Vision Correction Surgery

With the recent recognition of author Han Kang winning the Nobel Prize in Literature, she has sparked widespread interest both domestically and internationally. However, you may not know that the vision correction surgery we consistently introduce, SMILE, also has a significant connection to the Nobel Prize. Today, we’d like to share how modern optical technology, particularly the “femtosecond laser,” has influenced vision correction surgery.

1. A Product of Optical Technology: The Femtosecond Laser

In 2018, the Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to three scientists who pioneered revolutionary technologies in the field of laser physics. Traditional tools like tweezers and pincers, commonly used to handle small and delicate objects, are inadequate for manipulating microscopic materials like atoms and molecules.

These minute materials are not only difficult to observe but even more challenging to handle directly. However, the discovery that lasers can exert pressure on particles and draw them toward a central focus led to the development of optical tweezer technology. This innovation enabled precise manipulation of microscopic biological materials, such as viruses, bacteria, and living cells, using lasers.

Arthur Ashkin, Gérard Mourou, and Donna Strickland, recipients of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics, advanced technologies that allow for the meticulous handling of extremely small materials using light. Their groundbreaking work has been praised for laying the foundation for developing precise instruments in both industrial and medical fields.

▲ Research Data from the Chirp Pulse Amplification Technology, in which Professor Strickland Participated

The achievements of these three researchers led to the development of the femtosecond laser, an advanced technology.

Thanks to its innovative properties, femtosecond laser technology has opened new possibilities in the medical field, especially in vision correction surgery. The femtosecond laser can pass through the epithelium layer of the cornea while precisely targeting only the stroma layer, making it an ideal technology for vision correction.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction) is a vision correction method based on this femtosecond laser technology, which improves vision by removing a portion of the corneal stroma with minimal incisions.

▲ Research Data on the Development and Output Enhancement of Ultra-High-Power Lasers

The most important characteristic of the femtosecond laser is that its ultrafast light pulses are designed to precisely affect only the targeted tissue. In contrast, the excimer laser, primarily used for LASIK and LASEK procedures, has higher energy and longer wavelengths compared to the femtosecond laser. Lasers with longer wavelengths tend to affect not only the target area but also the surrounding tissue before reaching the intended point, which imposes certain limitations.

As a result, surgeries that use excimer lasers are typically performed by creating a corneal flap and adjusting the internal structure for LASIK or by removing the corneal epithelium and correcting the stroma for LASEK.

▲ Femtosecond Laser: Passing Through the Corneal Epithelium Without Damage, Removing Only the Stroma

In contrast, the femtosecond laser operates with an extremely short wavelength and rapid speed, offering a technological advantage by allowing precise incisions in the target area without damaging surrounding tissues. Thanks to this technology, a new method has been introduced that corrects the corneal stroma directly without creating a corneal flap or removing the epithelium.

As a result, corneal damage has been minimized, pain is barely felt, and complications such as heat-induced scarring and side effects have been significantly reduced. This advancement has become the core technology enabling the innovative SMILE procedure.

SMILE has overcome the limitations of LASIK and LASEK, significantly reducing the incidence of side effects such as dry eyes, corneal haze, and keratoconus. It is considered a representative case of innovation born from the combination of modern optical technology and medicine.

2. Zeiss and the Femtosecond Laser

A leading medical device that applies femtosecond laser technology is the VisuMax by Zeiss. The VisuMax uses femtosecond precision lasers to extract the corneal stroma (lenticular) during vision correction procedures.

▲ Optical Device in Zeiss Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) Lithography Equipment / Source: Zeiss SMT Website

Zeiss is a global company that has made significant contributions to the advancement of science, medicine, and industry through its optical technology innovations. In the 19th century, Zeiss microscopes laid the foundation for the discovery of tuberculosis bacteria in 1882, and the following year, they played a crucial role in identifying the cholera pathogen.

In the 20th century, Zeiss cameras were used in the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969, and from the 1970s to 1980s, they popularized high-quality cameras and led the era of widespread electronic products.

Zeiss’s optical technology has been widely used in various fields, from microscopes and industrial measurement equipment to eyeglass lenses and semiconductor manufacturing equipment for smartphones.

Built upon Zeiss’s long research and accumulated technology, the VisuMax system enables innovative surgery that corrects myopia and astigmatism by precisely adjusting the depth and location of the corneal stroma extraction without damaging the corneal surface.

Notably, through SMILE technology, Zeiss has contributed greatly to the performance of over 10 million SMILE surgeries worldwide. More than 1.5 million of these surgeries were successfully performed in Korea, clearly demonstrating the significant role VisuMax plays in the field of vision correction.

SMILE, combining modern precision optical technology with medical advancements, is a state-of-the-art vision correction procedure whose safety and effectiveness have already been proven globally. In Korea, it has become a trusted method, with extensive data and experience accumulated through numerous clinical cases.

We will continue to provide you with ongoing information related to laser technology.

Thank you for your time!