and appears regularly on many major television network news programs as a pioneer in refractive surgery. He also leads educational forums for other eye care professionals, which have included featured lectureships at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University and Tokyo University.

Since 1990, Dr. Assil has invented or pioneered numerous refractive procedures, including the Intrastromal Corneal Ring® (ICR®), combined technique RK, Phakic IOL, and myopic and hyperopic LASIK. In 1992, the International Society of Refractive Surgery honored Dr. Assil by naming him as the youngest member of its Board of Directors. Eye surgeons and celebrities travel from around the world to have Dr. Assil perform on their eyes.

Highlights

• Inventor and first surgeon in the world to perform the combined technique of RK; April 1991
• Co-inventor and first surgeon in the United States to perform two-incision RK for correction of myopic astigmatism
• Inventor and first surgeon in the world to perform computer guided RK
• First in the United States to implant KeraVision Intrastromal Corneal Rings® (ICR®) (Intacs™) in Phase III FDA trials
• First surgeon in Western United States to perform Phakic IOL using the Ophtec Verisyse™ Lens; December 1997
• First in California to implant Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens in Phase III of the FDA trials; May 1998
• Performed the first Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens Procedure for farsightedness; June 2000