Wavefront Technology is now being evaluated to determine if the current uncorrected visions being achieved after laser vision correction can be improved.

A safe diagnostic laser beam (not a treatment laser beam) is directed into the eye. The beam is reflected back from inside the eye and the reflected rays are measured at numerous points outside the eye. A computer utilizes the measurements to determine the "wavefront" which shows the imperfections of how light is being focused by the particular eye being examined. The measured "wavefront" for a particular eye can then be used to customize the laser vision correction treatment creating higher probability for excellent uncorrected vision. In theory, this exciting new technology may make uncorrected visions of even better than 20/20 after laser treatment common.

Wavefront technology attempts to reduce "aberrations" of light following laser vision corrections. Aberrations commonly exist in normal eyes. Images focused in the eye may have both "lower" and/or "higher" aberrations. Common examples include spherical, coma, trifoil, and tetrafoil aberrations. Aberrations affect vision by causing problems such as haloes, starbursts, etc.

Visual aberrations may be induced or increased by laser vision correction. There may be less induced "high order" aberrations with LASEK than LASIK. Utilizing standard, not customized laser correction using Wavefront technology, one recent series of LASEK patients had better uncorrected visions than those having LASIK.

LASIK may induce or increase more aberrations because of the creation of a stromal flap with the microkeratome. Patients having LASEK, with SURFACE TREATMENT, and the Wavefront customized treatment, may achieve better uncorrected vision than with LASIK. There is more predictability with LASEK using the wavefront customized treatment because there is no stromal flap.

It is not yet known if wavefront technology will be advantageous for all or only for a small percentage of patients having laser vision correction. Some recent estimates are less than 15% of patients having laser vision correction will benefit from Wavefront technology. Patients who can be corrected easily with glasses or contact lenses to 20/20 or better are unlikely to have significant "higher aberrations" which Wavefront technology is attempting to correct.

KERATRONTM

It is important to measure the curve on the cornea surface carefully, in advance of laser treatment, to determine if laser correction can be safely performed and how much treatment can be applied. This is because laser vision treatment corrects the focus of light in the eye by both thinning and changing the curvature of the cornea. Our office uses KERATRONTM technology with a computer to map over 5000 points on the surface of the cornea. Additionally, pachymetry is done to measure the actual thickness of the cornea. This allows calculation and determination of cornea residual thickness after excimer laser treatment.

© Earl W. Nepple, M.D., 2003 - All Rights Reserved
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