Wavefront Lasik

See our schematic QuickTime Lasik Movie

Background:

Wavefront technology has been used for years in the astrophysics field of telescopes.  In fact, this technology was what was used to fix the Hubble Telescope about 10 years ago, when the first images attained from the original telescope were distorted.  The distortions were caused by a chip of paint on the null corrector, an instrument used to create the "perfect" mirror.  Because of this chip of paint, what was supposed to have been a perfect mirror, ended up being a mirror that was too flat at the edges.  This induced significant higher order aberrations, or distortions, in the Hubble Telescope system.  The astrophysics needed to create a way to compensate for the distortions in order for the images to be perfect.  They needed the perfect "pair of glasses" for the Hubble Telescope.  Wavefront technology allowed them to create a compensating mirror and finally attain perfect images of stars and galaxies.

This same high technology and concept is now being applied to the human visual system through laser surgery.

Wavescan: a Wavefront Analyser:

The Wavescan is an instrument available at CLS and used to measure and analyze the aberrations, or distortions, of an eyeball.  It is called a WAVEscan, because light is made up of waves.  The Wavescan sends perfect waves of light through the visual system by projecting it directly onto the retina, the very back of the eye.  As the waves travel out of the eye, the wavescan captures an exiting wave.  Because this wave went through an eye, this wave is now distorted and represents the distortions and imperfections in that eye.

An analogy to the concept above is that of a wave on a lake.  Once a wave is created, you can see it undulate through the surface of the lake.  If it encounters a rock, the equivalent of an imperfection in the eye, that wave pattern will be distorted by that rock and waves past that rock will reflect that distortion. 

Scientific calculations are used to analyze and interpret these distortions and classify them into different "orders."

Why choose Wavefront Lasik:

In any optical system, there is an infinite amount of aberrations and these are classified into different orders.  Typically, the first and second orders of aberration are correctable by glasses, contact lenses and traditional Lasik. 

Wavefront Lasik can potentially correct up to the sixth order of aberration, allowing for the best chance for attaining the best quality of vision, with the least amount of night glare and the least chance for an enhancement. 

The reasons to choose Wavefront Lasik are:

1. You are particular about your vision, have the need to see very crisp, and would like the best chance of attaining the best quality of vision possible at this time. 

(FDA studies have shown that 70% of wavefront Lasik patients, at the end of one year, were able to see 20/16 or better.  98% of wavefront Lasik patients were able to see 20/20 or better.  100% of wavefront Lasik patients were able to see 20/40 or better. Results like these are what convinced us to offer this amazing technology to our patients.

2. You are concerned about night glare and would like the best chance of reducing any night vision symptoms.

(Because Custom Wavefront corrects the unique imperfections in each individual's vision, there is a potential that night vision may be improved. In fact, in the clinical study, four times as many participants were very satisfied with their night vision after the procedure as compared to their night vision before with glasses or contacts.)

3. You want the least chance for needing an enhancement after your primary Laser surgery.  The Wavescan measures your prescription in 0.01 Diopter steps.  (A Diopter is a unit of measurement of our prescription.)  The phoropter, the instrument used to measure the prescription in exam rooms, measures the prescription in 0.25 Diopter steps.  The Wavescan essentially measures the prescription 25 times more accurately.

4. You are a high-tech person and wish to have Laser surgery with the highest technology.

Is Traditional Lasik not as effective as Wavefront Lasik?

Despite what some may advertise, Traditional Lasik is still "custom" Lasik.  However it is only customized to your prescription.

Wavefront Lasik not only customizes the laser to your prescription, but also customizes it to your entire visual system.  For the right candidate Traditional Lasik is great, and Wavefront Lasik may be better, as it is a more customized.

Is Wavefront Lasik more risky since it is newly approved?

Wavefront Lasik is performed technically the same way as Traditional Lasik.  The surgeon will still create a flap, lift it, treat the cornea with the laser, and replace the flap.  The main difference between the two is the laser pattern that is placed on the surface of the eye.  Wavefront Lasik's laser pattern is more customized to your visual system than the Traditional Lasik's laser pattern.

Wavefront Lasik may also be considered safer due to its potential ability to decrease night vision problems and treat the prescription more accurately.

Why does Wavefront Lasik cost more?

Wavefront Technology is an expensive technology.  Much more time and measurements are involved in the calculations of the perfect treatment for your eye with Wavefront Lasik. 

Call us to schedule a consultation to see if you qualify and/or will benefit from Wavefront Technology.  You can be assured that we will give you an honest assessment in regards to the benefits you may or may not be receiving by choosing Wavefront Lasik.