Dr. Weiss completed a study in 2007 [Reduction of Pain and Anxiety Prior to Botulinum Toxin injections with New Topical Anesthetic Method] to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a new Botox injection method that has been proven to decrease or eliminate injection discomfort. This method involves the use of a new invention, the Weiss Comfort Shield (watch the informational video here) , that has been proven to decrease or eliminate injection discomfort(not yet commercially available).
Laser Vision Correction inventions and research
Dr. Weiss’ research interests focus on clinical relevance and improving laser vision correction outcomes. His philosophy is that the success of laser vision correction procedures depends less on the extreme manual dexterity that is required in cataract or eye plastic surgery, but on more on precise control of many other ‘non-surgical’ variables, such as accuracy of refraction, precise measurement of vertex distance, efficient epithelial removal techniques to leave a smooth anterior corneal surface without stromal dehydration (in PRK), and proper centration methods and exact laser focusing. He has presented many papers on various aspects of this research at most of the major international refractive surgery meetings.
He was a Senior Instructor for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, teaching other ophthalmologists his own various techniques and the Program Chairman of the conference Botox, Blephs & LASIK; Strategies for Success with Elective Ophthalmic Procedures, which brought together physicians and surgeons from multi-specialties for scientific presentations and hands-on workshop training.
Weiss Vertexometer. The invention for which he received his first U.S. patent (first presented at the spring 1998 meeting of the American Society for Cataract and Refractive Surgery) is a device to allow accurate vertex distance measurements from behind the phoropter, the instrument used to measure the refractive error in the doctor’s office. The vertex distance is a measurement that is necessary in every refractive procedure regardless of the method (PRK, LASIK, holmium laser, intra-stromal corneal rings, intra-ocular contact lenses). Exact and convenient measurement of the vertex distance (not previously possible) is necessary for more accurate and predictable visual results from refractive surgery.
Rotary Epithelial Brush. Dr. Weiss was the co-developer of the rotary epithelial brush method of epithelial removal prior to photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) and was the primary investigator in the basic research performed at Beckman Laser Institute showing this method to have advantages over other previously used techniques. This method is now used throughout the world and was actually mandated for use by surgeons using the VISX laser for the U.S. FDA trials for hyperopia.
Advanced Epithelial removal device. He also invented an advanced rotary device for epithelial removal prior to hyperopic correction that leaves a central area of the epithelium untouched. This has the potential for making hyperopic PRK safer since it spares the visual axis and may contribute to quicker healing times.
Laser centration studies. Dr. Weiss has worked with laser scientists at the VISX facility in Santa Clara, CA to determine the correct method of centering and focusing refractive lasers which depend on binocular fixation, which include most of the currently available lasers worldwide. Initially, the manufacturer did not properly instruct surgeons how to properly focus the laser, which left room for error in laser treatments. After identifying the problem, he conducted original research with the manufacturer’s scientists at their Silicon Valley laboratory. Together they developed an improved, three-dimensional method for precisely centering the laser beam on the surface of the cornea.
