NASA astronauts to receive advanced LASIK

Santa Ana, CA-Advanced Medical Optics (AMO) received approval from the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) today to use the company's LASIK technologies on U.S. astronauts.

LASIK technology was approved by the FDA for consumers a decade ago, however, NASA didn't approve it for missions until it was developed into an all-laser procedure. AMO's Advanced CustomVue LASIK with femtosecond (InterLase) method was given the go-ahead from NASA for use on pilots, mission, and payload specialists who face extreme conditions in space.

"NASA's approval is further evidence that today's LASIK exceeds all established standards of safety and effectiveness," said Steven Schallhorn, MD, retired captain of the U.S. Navy.

The femtosecond laser replaces the hand-held microkeratome blade used for creating corneal flaps. The laser reduces the potential for numerous sight-threatening LASIK complications related to microkeratomes, according to AMO.