Laser vision correction has come a long way over the past few decades. From the production of the first excimer laser by IBM in 1975 to the FDA’s approval of customized Wavefront LASIK vision correction in 2002, many milestones have helped assert LASIK surgery as one of the most popular and effective procedures.
Key innovators have been recognized on the world stage for their eye surgery development contributions. Most recently, the European Patent Office (EPO) honored laser eye surgery pioneer Josef Bille with a lifetime achievement award for his development of Wavefront corrective eye surgery. Following the introduction of LASIK in 1989, Bille helped evolve the procedure into a customized surgery through research on how to use aberrometers to best reshape the cornea and measure high order aberrations.
Wavefront LASIK innovations have since been combined with other developments, including the use of the femtosecond laser for enhanced precision of vision correction. Bille, a University of Heidelberg researcher and entrepreneur, greatly contributed to the development of the personalized LASIK surgery procedures used today by North America’s leading eye surgery centers, including Kugler Vision in Omaha.
In June 2012, Bille was recognized at the EPO ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark. In his acceptance speech, the researcher described how him and his colleagues created an atmosphere of entrepreneurship regarding developments in laser eye surgery. “We described ourselves as the ‘tip of the arrow’ [Pfeilspitze],” Bille said. “Because we saw each other as a group of young people who can change the world.” Combining the use of Wavefront Optimized Treatment and custom LASIK technologies such as the Intralase Femtosecond Laser and Allegretto Wave EyeQ Excimer Laser, Dr. Lance Kugler offers the latest advancements in LASIK surgery. Learn more about Kugler Vision’s Technology and advanced procedures.
Lance Kugler, MD, is a specialist in LASIK and vision correction surgery and CEO of Kugler Vision. A proud Omaha native, he is passionate about improving lives through clear vision. Dr. Kugler serves on several national boards, and his practice is recognized internationally as a center of excellence. Dr. Kugler is one of the original founders of the Refractive Surgery Alliance, an international organization comprised of over 350 of the world’s leading vision correction surgeons; he also served as its first president. In 2019, Dr. Kugler was selected as a TEDx speaker, and delivered a talk in Omaha about the worldwide epidemic of nearsightedness and refractive solutions. Dr. Kugler is an Associate Professor of Refractive Surgery at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Truhlsen Eye Institute, has been published in many medical journals, and participates in numerous clinical studies to advance the field of vision correction surgery. Additionally, Dr. Kugler is proud to be a Board Certified Fellow of the World College of Refractive Surgery & Visual Sciences. Dr. Kugler and his wife are proud parents to five active kids. When he has a spare moment, he enjoys skiing, tennis, travel, and fine coffee.
