Laser Eye Surgery

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Central Ohio’s premierinformation source News Sports Business InterAct Life / Arts Services Quick fix for nearsightedness 20-minute operation adds a permanent contact lens for instant vision upgrade Friday, March 03, 2006 Misti Crane THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Unless something was an inch or two from Esther Black’s eyes, it was a blur.

With glasses, her vision still wasn’t terrific, and contacts irritated her eyes.

Black, an Ohio State University art student, said the quality of her prints — which often incorporate images of eyes — has suffered because of her impaired depth perception.

Yesterday, the 23-year-old was eager for a fix and became one of the first in the country to have a new type of permanent contact lens implanted in her right eye.

The lens, for people who are moderately to severely nearsighted, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December.

The surgery costs about $3,500 per eye and is typically not covered by insurance.

A handful of ophthalmologists, including Dr.

Richard Erdey, who performed Black’s surgery and has studied the lens since 1998, have begun using it.

By April, it is expected to be widely av...

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