Definition and Purpose

The social acceptance of Refractive Corneal Surgery differs from country to country. Actually it is quite astonishing how it has been neglected in some countries over the decades. It is somewhat true that the so-called developed countries tend to be more wary and think that vision should not be gambled with. However, in the author's point of view a large part of the emotional arguments against Refractive Corneal Surgery comes from never questioned cultural beliefs. Statements like Myopic Patient: "No one is going to touch my eyes".

An ophthalmologist asked about his opinion of operating on children with serious!! myopia, to allow the child's development of vital vision processing in young years claimed: "The doctor must be without any moral obligation to operate on a child's healthy cornea."

These statements show intolerance and even ignorance to innovative approaches. Asking oneself why hearing aids are socially much less tolerated than wearing glasses, and how avoiding them through "risky" operations is not even questioned, demonstrates the so-called "rational" beliefs of some authorities.

In the author's point of view adequate distribution and application of Refractive Corneal Surgery weighing both the risk and the benefits will help to maximise all patients satisfaction and the applied quality. Today’s uncritical application in some countries and dogmatic non application in other countries does not serve for the patients benefit.