By Martin Burns
Eye laser surgery is increasingly being chosen as a lifestyle choice to combat the pressures of 21st century life, according to Optimax.
The procedure was regarded by many patients as a `leap of faith` and similar to the advancing laser beam torture seen on James Bond films.
Now, people are increasingly choosing to have the surgery in response to lifestyle pressure such as keeping fit, working longer and improving their social lives.
People are also undergoing the treatment in a bid to reclaim their youthfulness.
However, Dr Sanjay Patel, a researcher and specialist in corneal surgery and transplantation at the Mayo Clinic, recently told National Public Radio (NPR) that available data on laser eye surgery risks was unclear.
He said: "Right now, we do not have good data to actually give patients a percentage to say there`s an X percent chance you`re going to have dry eyes after refractive surgery."
The early days of the treatment were described as `burn and learn` years by Julian Stevens, a surgeon at Moorfields Eye Hospital, who spoke to the Times on the 20th anniversary of the surgery last year.
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