Her doctor, Dr. John Vukich, is one of them. The corneal inlay, called KAMRA, is a flexible doughnut-shaped ring that is surgically inserted into the eye and creates a sort of artificial pupil. He is working as a consultant to the company marketing the implant.

The surgical procedure uses a laser to make a small incision in the very front of the cornea, where the ring is placed. The results with a corneal inlay are “immediate”, says Vukich, restoring near vision right away. And there isn’t much down time for patients. He says the procedure is far less complicated and invasive than LASIK.

The KAMRA corneal inlay has been used in Europe since 2011, and is also being used in South America and Asia.

But members of an FDA advisory panel have raised concerns about the safety of the device.