Wavefront Lasik – How it’s done and what it is?
Traditional LASIK surgery achieves a simple correction of focusing power by reshaping the cornea with the aid of a laser. Wavefront LASIK is a variation of that conventional procedure and accomplishes a spatially varying correction based on readings from a wavefront sensor. In essence, a wavefront sensor measures the eye itself. Wavefront measurements reveal the irregularities of the lens, which cause optical aberrations (any deviation from a desired perfect planar wavefront).
Wavefront custom sculpts the cornea to accomplish corrected vision. In many ways, Wavefront offers better results than traditional LASIK. LASIK has certain potential side effects including halos or glare, which are caused due to induced spherical aberration. Anyone considering Lasik laser eye surgery will welcome the introduction of wavefront technology into the process. It gives the eye surgeon the information needed for a more effective and successful procedure.
Eye surgeons now have available a new technology that makes vision correction more precise. It’s called “wavefront”.
To correct poor vision Lasik eye surgery has become the popular choice. Lasik surgery links the condition of the patient’s visual system to the Lasik laser for correction.
The incisions performed on the cornea of the eye are customized to the patient’s individual needs. Accurate data concerning the condition of the patient’s eyes is all important. Wavefront technology is a technology that is capable of measuring refraction at multiple points on the eye as light is reflected upon it. This creates a “map” of the patient’s eye. Because each eye is unique the data from each eye must be carefully analyzed so that the Lasik laser maybe properly programmed.
Conditions within the cornea of every eye affect refraction. The ability to treat these aberrations can result in an improved outcome after Lasik surgery. Clinical trials using wavelength technology have shown that nearly 80% of Lasik eye surgery patients undergoing custom surgery achieved 20/20 vision. This is a higher number than those who underwent traditional Lasik surgery.
Another benefit of wavefront is in determining which patients are not candidates for Lasik surgery. Wavefront technology can detect an infinite number of aberrations by using a fixation target along with an input laser beam. A wavefront sensor is used to measure the slope of the wavefront as it exits the eye. When the laser light beam enters the eye, it produces a flat wavefront. In the perfect eye, a wavefront that is still completely flat will reflect back. After wavefront is used to evaluate and diagnose existing aberrations in the eye, it is used to create the exact procedure for reshaping the cornea.
Wavefront technology is not new. Wavefront is used for adjusting the optics in their telescopes. The data resulting from wavefront technology is used to remove aberrations. The procedure employed by the wavefront analyzer to measure higher order aberrations would appear quite complex to a layman.
This wavefront is compared against a planar wavefront, in order to determine both lower and higher order aberrations.
Watch the video related to wavefront lasik
Help answer the question about wavefront lasik
Regarding LASIK surgery, is Custom Wavefront Lasik worth $800 more than Flying Spot Technology?
If someone could provide an educated opinion on the topic I’d appreciate it. My LASIK surgeon recommended either the Bausch & Lomb 217Z (flying spot) or the Bausch & Lomb Zyoptix (custom wavefront). When I search for articles on the web, all I get are articles promoting one or the other, but I cant find a comparison. It seems like the Zypotix comes higher recommended but is it worth an extra $800? Or is the improvement between custom wavefront over flying spot worth it?
About Author
Michael is the founder of Wavefront Lasik Info, the website focused on wavefront lasik information.
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8 Responses to “Wavefront Lasik – How it’s done and what it is?”
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Wavefront lasik will in most cases give better results compared to surgery without using wavefront.
However as you say yourself results are not guaranteed.
Of course with all laser eye surgery there is of course no permanent cure and at some stage later in life spectacles will again need to be worn.
Please read up as much as you can before considering surgery.
Good Luck
Dominic
Retired optometrist and husband of refractive eye surgery patient(now wearing spectacles 9yrs later!)
they will be with the custom, but your long term will be great. with custom there is more laser so more inflammation. Don't worry you should notice some improvements throughout the day and into tomorrow. I had custom a year and a half ago love it my night time vision is awesome.
good luck, email with any questions
Phil B
It is essential to inform your Dr. of all procedures/surgeries you have had. Especially if you are trying to have another surgery or are trying to get a problem diagnosed.Your desire to have something "fixed" may not be in line with what is medically appropriate for you and by not sharing important information you may set yourself up for problems. Be honest with your dr.
Hard to say if its the most popular, but I have heard more than one success story with them. Check out this testimonial from someone who had the procedure done at Lasik Plus San Diego http://www.sandiego-lasiksurgery.com/2008/01/lasik-plus-san-diego-testimonial.html
"The primary difference between conventional Lasik and wavefront custom Lasik is the mapping system that guides the laser. Wavefront can be used for virtually all laser eye surgery techniques including All-Laser Lasik, Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik."
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasek.htm
http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/epi-lasik.htm
I could keep copying info that I think is good from these, but there is so much good information. It talks about how after PRK, there was a problem with a little haziness sometimes…because of the injury to the eye, cells were sent there, and created a "haze." And with Lasik, there is a flap, but the cornea is "fooled" into thinking there is no injury, so it won't produce the haze.
Ask your opthalmologist lots of questions because that's his job, so don't feel bad about wanting to be clear about your options.
I had lasik eye surgery about 1 ago, so far I have been very happy, but it has cons that were small to me. For instance, I see small halos at night when I'm driving around the street lights and car lights, they are not great enough to really bother me. The paperwork before the surgery is pretty scary, you have to sign a waiver in which it explains all the things that can go wrong, so in the end, you just have to ask yourself if you are willing to deal with the cons no matter their size. There are also about three or four different technology's for laser surgery, I know lasik and wavefront are two different ones. So just make sure your doctor know which technology is best for you.
It'll take a while… Depends on how sensitive your eye is…
I had one year ago and have no fear , no commplications at all, the worst thing that can happen is u might feal dryness and have to use gel drops for a while , i still use them when i need to. But i deffenitly felt a difference and i encourage u to go for it. It's worth it!!