Wavefront-Laser Eye Surgery

    Introduction to Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery

Wavefront LASIK is sometimes known as 'Custom LASIK Surgery' or even as   'Wavefront-Guided LASIK'.

The method involves standard laser eye surgery but with the benefit of being able to use a detailed three dimensional  map of how your eyes see the light that enters them when reflected of objects. These maps enable the surgeon to very accurately use the laser to reshape the cornea correctly.

The three dimensional map generated by the Wavefront measurement system is extremely precise. It makes possible levels of vision correction that would not be achievable using standard surgery.

  Are you suitable for Wavefront LASIK surgery?

There are a number of different criteria that are used to determine suitability for Wavefront LASIK surgery.

The precision of the laser system used by your doctor is one of them. The thickness of your cornea and whether you have mild to moderately high myopia, mild to moderately high hyperopia or mild to moderately high astigmatism are others. Only a full eye examination / consultation can fully determine suitability.

    Wavefront technology and the digital map of your eye

With the use of Wavefront technology your eyes ability to focus light is accurately measured and a three dimensional digital map is created.

The digital map shows any irregularities in the way that your eyes process information.

With this data the laser can be programmed with sufficient accuracy to enable it to reshape your corneal surface for the best results.

Any irregularities in the processing of data in your eyes will be corrected with extreme precision.

Ordinary defects in your vision such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can be corrected using eye glasses, contact lenses, and traditional LASIK surgery.

However, there are irregularities of the eye that can only be spotted and treated with the Wavefront LASIK technology.

    Potential benefits of using Wavefront technology

One of the major improvements arising out of the use of Wavefront technology involves the quality of your vision and the way you see objects. In the more common laser eye surgery procedures your eyesight is improved by improving your score on the eye charts.

With Wavefront technology, the quality of your vision and the way you see is also enhanced. Fine detail and sensitivity to contrast is improved and fewer complications relating to halos, glare and night vision problems arise.

How much you can see depends on what sort of defect you might have in your vision such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. These are often referred to as the lower-order aberrations. Traditional LASIK is able to treat these refractive conditions.

How well you see is often referred to as higher-order aberrations and depends on any distortions you may have with your vision. LASIK surgery using Wavefront technology allows the treatment of these higher-order aberrations and corrects conditions such as night vision and contrast sensitivity.

Wavefront technology allows your surgeon to create a unique laser correction program tailored for the surface of your eye. This will be created from a detailed analysis of the deficiencies in your vision as determined by the way light travels through your eye.

    Latest developments in Wavefront technology?

Femtosecond treatment procedures are being combined with IntraLase and Wavefront technology to create what is being called. 'All Laser LASIK' or 'IntraLASIK'.

IntraLASIK may well develop into the next generation of laser eye surgery and could be the ultimate solution to correcting vision problems.