Researchers have announced a breakthrough in vision correction that could one day provide a safer, simpler alternative to LASIK surgery—and it doesn’t require lasers or incisions. Instead, the innovative technique uses a gentle burst of electricity to reshape the eye’s surface, potentially offering clearer vision with fewer risks.
At the American Chemical Society’s Fall 2025 meeting, Professor Michael Hill of Occidental College shared that his team has successfully used this new method, called electromechanical reshaping (EMR), to alter the shape of rabbit corneas—key structures at the front of the eye that help focus light for clear vision. LASIK, the most common vision correction surgery today, uses lasers to remove precise sections of the cornea, effectively “carving” it into a new shape. While effective, LASIK’s cutting process can weaken the eye and carries some risks.
Hill and his collaborator, Dr. Brian Wong of UC Irvine, wanted to find a less invasive way to improve eyesight. Their solution: gently molding the cornea with a specialized platinum “contact lens” electrode and a mild electrical current. When placed on the eye, the device alters the local chemistry just enough to make the cornea temporarily flexible. After a minute—about as fast as LASIK—the cornea takes on a new shape, correcting focusing issues like nearsightedness in animal trials.
Early results are promising: The procedure worked in most tested rabbit eyes, and the treated cells survived unharmed. Impressively, the method also showed potential for reversing some forms of corneal cloudiness, which currently require transplant surgery.
Though still in its early stages and facing funding challenges, the team is planning more exhaustive studies on living animals. If successful, this “no-cut” approach could offer a more accessible, affordable, and even reversible alternative for millions seeking freedom from glasses and contacts.
