No Laser or Scalpel: EMR Technology Set to Replace LASIK for Myopia Correction
A research team from Occidental College and the University of California, Irvine, is currently developing a futuristic technology called Electromechanical Reshaping (EMR). This experimental method is projected to be an alternative to LASIK surgery that can correct patients’ corneal issues without the need for lasers or surgical incisions.
Currently, LASIK procedures work by removing a small portion of the corneal tissue using a laser to permanently reshape it. Although considered safe, LASIK carries risks of complications such as dry eyes, glare, halos, and corneal structural weakening.
“LASIK is merely a fancy way of performing traditional surgery. The method still removes tissue, just with a laser,” said Michael Hill, a chemistry professor at Occidental College.
Unlike LASIK, EMR does not remove any eye tissue at all. The idea was accidentally discovered by Brian Wong, a professor and surgeon at the University of California, Irvine, while researching collagen-rich tissues such as the cornea.
“All these effects were discovered accidentally,” Wong explained. “I was viewing living tissue as a malleable material and stumbled upon this entire chemical modification process.”
Collagen-rich tissues maintain their shape through charged molecular networks. Since the cornea contains a lot of water, scientists found that applying a mild electric current can temporarily alter the tissue’s pH level. This pH change loosens molecular bonds, making the cornea flexible and easily reshaped using a platinum-based contact lens. Once the current is stopped and pH returns to normal, the cornea hardens again, locking in the new shape.
In laboratory tests on 12 rabbit eyes, the research team used a platinum contact lens as an electrode. Within approximately one minute — similar to LASIK procedure duration — the cornea was softened and reshaped to correct myopia.
Laboratory imaging tests showed that tissue cells remained alive and the corneal collagen structure was undamaged and remained transparent. Besides being safer for eye structure, EMR technology is predicted to be significantly cheaper as it does not require complex laser systems. The method also has potential to treat cloudy corneas without full transplantation.
Despite its promise, researchers caution that the technology is still in early stages and has only been tested on isolated stomach organs, not living organisms or humans.
“There is a long way between what we have done and clinical application,” Hill concluded. “However, if we succeed, this technique could be widely used, much cheaper, and even potentially reversible.” (Science Daily/Z-2)