Dr. George Rozakis

Dr. George Rozakis is a pioneer and international leader in the field of LASIK & refractive surgery. Dr. Rozakis was one of the first surgeons in the world and the second in the United States to perform LASIK. Some of his accomplishments include: being part of the earliest FDA trials on PRK in 1988 and developing his own approach to LASIK eye surgery in conjunction with the FDA in 1994. Outside of LASIK, his other interests revolve around the use of genetics and biochemistry to treat diseases of the eye and body.

EDUCATION | TRAINING

Dr. Rozakis graduated from Case Western Reserve University with a degree in biomedical engineering and attended the Cornell Medical College in New York. He studied ophthalmology at the Duke Eye Center and successfully began a solo private practice in Cleveland, Ohio.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS | HONORS | MEMBERSHIPS | AFFILIATIONS

Between 1992 and 1994, Dr. Rozakis did what was to become LASIK, using a surgical tool called a microkeratome, in a procedure called ALK and wrote a book on this subject matter called Refractive Lamellar Keratoplasty. Seeing the need to combine the microkeratome and Laser, Dr. Rozakis developed his own laser technology becoming the second surgeon in the United States to perform LASIK in 1994 for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. During these years he also created and patented a new method for performing custom LASIK. After realizing the weaknesses of LASIK for the very nearsighted and farsighted, he pioneered the use of inside the eye contact lenses and holds patents in this area.

Dr. Rozakis has also received multiple awards for his work including the 2015 Crain’s Award for Advancements in Health Care and the 1998 International KMSG (Keratomileusis Study Group) Innovators Award for LASIK Eye Surgery (Barraquer Award).