American researchers have proposed a bloodless way to reshape the cornea using electricity, according to ScienceDaily, as reported by infohub.kz.
The new technology is called electromechanical reshaping (EMR). Its creators say it could become a simpler and cheaper alternative to traditional LASIK laser surgery.
Instead of cutting corneal tissue with a laser, the scientists use a weak electric current. The electrical pulse temporarily changes the pH level in the eye's tissues, softening collagen — the main protein responsible for the cornea's stiffness. At that moment, the tissue becomes elastic and easily takes the desired shape, and once normal pH levels are restored, the cornea's stiffness returns.
In experiments, the researchers placed platinum lenses on rabbits' eyes, which served as electrodes and shaping molds. Under a weak current, the cornea changed shape in just one minute, successfully correcting nearsightedness in all 10 test samples. The eye cells were not damaged because pH levels were controlled with high precision.
The method has shown excellent results in the lab, but it will be a long time before it can be used on humans. Scientists still need to conduct lengthy trials on live animals to confirm the technology's safety and determine how long the correction effect lasts.