Though several researchers developed the procedures for using an excimer laser to perform in situ karatomileusis (LASIK), "Pallikaris also independently conceived of a hinged flap using a microkeratome he had specifically designed for rabbit studies and performed the ablation with an excimer laser on the exposed bed followed by replacement of the flap without sutures. The term LASIK was first used to describe this procedure in his 1990 paper. Pallikaris treated his first patients in October 1990 and published his results on 10 high myopic human eyes with one year-follow-up in 1994" (Reinstein, Archer, Gobbe, "Birth of Lasik" IN: Goes (ed.) The eye in history [2013] 436).