The View Beyond LASIK: New Techs Further Propel Refractive Surgical Market

03 Oct 2016

• By Bob Kronemyer

LASIK continues to hold a dominant share of the refractive surgical market but limitations in current technologies are stymying further growth. However, a tide of innovation refractive correction is coming in now, and over the next few years that will accelerate growth in this market and fully capitalize on this huge and yet undertapped opportunity known as presbyopia. This article discusses drivers and barriers in the refractive correction market and highlights three companies to look out for this space.

close up of an eye — New technologies in refractive vision correction • Source: shutterstock.com

Apart from traditional eyeglasses and contact lenses, laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) remains the dominant method globally for correcting refractive errors. However, this corneal refractive laser surgery procedure is not ideal, due to the fact that it is invasive, rarely can be repeated, corrects only distance vision and requires a huge capital expenditure.

Still, LASIK is big business. According to 2015 data from Market Scope LLC, the national average cost of LASIK in...