LASIK

Wavefront Lasik Surgery

As a general rule, the quality of vision with wavefront Lasik surgery is superior to conventional laser eye surgery, but that does not mean that wavefront Lasik surgery is best for everybody. Circumstances will vary between patients and the benefits and risks should be discussed with your doctor.

The main difference between conventional Lasik surgery and wavefront Lasik surgery is the mapping system data that guides the laser during the surgery. Wavefront Lasik surgery can be used for virtually all laser eye surgery techniques including All-Laser Lasik, Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik.

Wavefront Lasik surgery is a technology that has been used for years that has only recently been applied to human vision. It was first used by astronomers to correct refractive errors in the lenses in their telescopes. A reflecting mirror within the telescope that can be deformed is adjusted using wavefront data to eliminate errors induced by the Earth's atmosphere. In wavefront custom Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik, the excimer laser uses wavefront information to change the shape of the cornea by surgically reshaping tissue.

The human eye provides some unique challenges for application of wavefront Lasik surgery technology. The human eye is not a telescope. The eye is a dynamic instrument, with ever changing focus, pupil size, and other normal biological fluctuations. A telescope is static and fixed and once adjusted for a certain set of coordinates, stays the same. A mirror can be adjusted to a very precise amount. Adjusting corneal tissue is not nearly so precise. Wavefront Lasik surgery may be an excellent mapping system, but it is still a delicate task.

Think of an eye examination for wavefront Lasik as a way to "map" vision limitations. A conventional eye exam can map LOA. A wavefront diagnostic can map LOA and HOA (ways of measuring eyesight). Determining errors in eyesight based upon the LOA with a conventional eye exam is like using a map of the world to find your way around your town. This can be a next to impossible task. Custom wavefront surgery could be compared to a map of a specific area. Custom wavefront-guided Lasik, LASEK, PRK, and Epi-Lasik directs the excimer laser to change the shape of the cornea using a more detailed mapping system than conventional refractive surgery.

Wavefront Lasik surgery is a very precise and the most accurate form of eye surgery but it is still surgery on a very delicate area and should be treated as such. Make sure to check the doctor's credentials and to get all of your questions answered.