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Tiny Chip Accelerated Huge Advances in Eye Care
Did you hear about last week's big anniversary? Maybe not, but most geeks were partying!The very first working integrated circuit was introduced 50 years ago. That means the so-called Digital Age is now half a century old.
Integrated circuits (microchips) gradually replaced traditional vacuum tubes and discrete electrical components. This innovation reduced the size, reduced the weight and greatly imporoved the overall functionality of nearly everything electrical in our lives. Beyond a simple on/off switch, integrated circuits allowed devices with semiconductors to store data and display information to the user.
Yes, the personal computer was one important outgrowth of the digital revolution. Back in college we had to feed punch cards into huge (room sized) computers in order to develop simple computer programs. Ugh, how primitive! Today's laptops reliably store more data and process it much faster than any of the giant central computers.
If you walk around your house you will locate ICs in your TV, telephone, DVD player, Gameboy, home security system, as well as your electric toothbrush and digital alarm clock.
Eye specialists are especially appreciative for semiconductor technology. Most of the phenomenal imaging equipment in the eye clinic relies on ICs. Sophisticated tests can be quickly performed and instantly compared to previous exams. Many clinics are going 100% paperless thanks to electronic medical recordkeeping.
Laser therapy for retinal disorders would not exist without ICs, nor would LASIK. Enough said.
Heard about the miraculous 'artificial retina' microchip coming down the road? Yep, it's a tiny IC implanted into the eye!
Want more proof? When I began performing my earliest cataract operations we relied on gravity and suction to perform intraocular surgery. Need more fluid pressure? Simply raise the bag of irrigating solution! Today the eye surgeon benefits with sophisticated instrumentation that is precisely controlled by ICs. Nowadays the confident surgeon controls the equipment with delicate foot pedals or a voice-activated sensor. Integrated circuits can rightfully take ample credit for the tremendous improvement in surgical outcomes over the past generation.
The development of integrated circuits has truly revolutionized our world. In 1990 Jack Kilby of Texas Instruments received the Nobel Prize for his invention. According to the President of the Semiconductor Industry Association, "The integrated circuit has proved to be the single most important driver of increased productivity and economic growth in history."
And remember, this all happened in the past 50 years. 2058 is just around the corner!
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Labels: LASIK, retina, technology
