| NASA Plays a Role in Improving Vision for East Texas Residents March 29, 2005 HEATON EYE ASSOCIATES NOW OFFERING SPACE CERTIFIED TECHNOLOGY TO LASIK PATIENTS NASA Plays a Role in Improving Vision for East Texas Residents Tyler, Texas – The LADARVision® 4000 laser eye surgery system, used to treat patients Heaton Eye Associates, has been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame and granted licensing rights to the Certified Space Technology™ program and seal, the only laser eye surgery system in the world to receive such an award and licensing privileges. The Space Foundation, in cooperation with NASA, established the Space Certification Program and the Space Technology Hall of Fame to recognize innovators who transform technology originally developed for space use into commercial products, to increase public awareness of the benefits of space transfer technology, and to encourage further innovation. The LADARVision® 4000 system, used at Heaton Eye Associates since 2002, employs a tracking device which uses the same laser radar technology originally developed to help NASA spacecraft rendezvous and dock with satellites during service calls. During laser vision correction surgery, the LADARVision® system’s tracking device allows eye surgeons to track involuntary eye movements at a rate of 4,000 times per second, 15 times faster than any other LASIK system used today. "Accurate tracking of eye movements during laser eye surgery is a critical aspect of this delicate procedure," explains Charles L. Heaton, M.D. "The human eye moves 100 times per second, and, without a sophisticated tracking system to lock onto the eye and remain fixed on its movements, the laser used to reshape the cornea during LASIK could become misaligned and deliver a very poor outcome."
The LADARVision® system was developed to work seamlessly with other anticipated advances in laser eye surgery, such as new wavefront technology recently approved by the FDA. During a wavefront-guided LASIK procedure, proper alignment of the laser beam is again crucial, as it can help to reduce visual irregularities, such as glare, halos and night vision problems. "LADARVision® has been inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame and awarded the Certified Space Technology™ seal because it effectively applies space based technology to help people around the world hold on to one of the most precious gifts we enjoy, the gift of sight," said Kevin C. Cook, Space Foundation Director of Space Awareness Programs. "LADARVision® helps improve the quality of life here on Earth in a very real way." Heaton Eye Associates has been serving East Texas vision needs for over 21 years. Heaton Eye Associates offers state-of-the-art eye care with special services ranging from basic eye care to world class laser surgery. They were the FIRST to offer LASIK laser vision correction in East Texas and have performed thousands of procedures since it's inception. |
 |
|
| Copyright © 2007 Heaton Eye Associates
A member of the Wavelight Allegretto network of laser vision correction surgeons.
|
