[patrickg_zill]

LASIK derived from RK - the Soviets were trying to save on having to grind prescription glasses for people - the cornea would be removed, frozen in nitrogen to be stiffer, then placed on a machine that had 1-micron accuracy which then modified the cornea by essentially machining it; then the cornea would be re-attached.

[pinewurst]

RK was/is very much a Soviet invention, but it's not the same as external corneal reshaping (I can't remember the real term). RK uses corneal incisions to flatten the curvature without removal.

[PerfectDlite]

> save on having to grind prescription glasses for people

Are you implying that removing cornea and re-attaching it will be _cheaper_ than grinding prescription glasses?