Dr. Herschel’s longstanding and avid interest in vision correction clinical trials and research keeps him on the cutting edge of vision correction technologies and techniques for his patients.
Dr. Herschel first became interested in clinical studies and research on vision correction surgery in 1992 during his fellowship in Cornea and Excimer Laser Research at the LSU Eye Center in New Orleans under the world famous pioneer in vision correction surgery, Dr. Marguerite McDonald. That fellowship was followed by a clinical year in Cornea, External Disease, and Refractive Surgery also under Dr. McDonald. During those fellowships, Dr. Herschel coordinated two FDA Phase III clinical trials: Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) for the Treatment of Low, Moderate, and High Myopia (nearsightedness) and Excimer Laser Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) for the Treatment of Hyperopia (farsightedness). The trials eventually led to the approval of LASIK and PRK in the United States.
Most recently, Dr. Herschel served as a Principal Investigator (the only one in Central Florida) for an FDA multi-center Phase III clinical trial using corneal collagen cross-linking to treat patients with Keratoconus or corneal ectasia. The trials led to the approval of corneal collagen cross-linking in the United States in April 2016.
Dr. Herschel is currently reviewing the protocols for several new clinical trials. We will provide updated information, as it becomes available.
