Entries Tagged as 'wavefront'

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.

Michael is the founder of Wavefront Lasik Info, the website focused on wavefront lasik information.

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How is Wavefront Technology Used in Lasik Vision Correction?

The wonderful results of Lasik surgery have been improved by research adding new methods, such as Wavefront technology. This technology gives a Lasik physician the ability to see and accurately map even slight variations in the surface of the eye. This gives the physician the ability to more accurately tailor a Lasik operation to the individual, and result in even clearer vision.

The concept behind Wavefront technology was originally developed by astronomers, in order to indicate if a mirror or a lens had slight imperfections in it. It is very important in astronomy to get near perfect optics in order to clearly see the small light sources million of miles away in the universe. In the 1970s a sensor was created to electronically check these surfaces, and a type of this sensor is now used in the Wavefront guided Lasik procedures.

The idea to apply this technique, or to use this sensor, to the field of ophthalmology and later to the specific area of Lasik vision correction, was begun in Germany. The physician Josef Bille began using the sensor in his practice, and this started others to refine the sensor and how it is used and to apply it to Lasik technology. In 1997 the improved sensor, with greater accuracy and speed, was announced to the Lasik laser manufacturers. This allowed the companies that manufacture the Lasik equipment to develop tools using the Wavefront concept for each of their own laser systems.

The FDA approved the first Wavefront guided Lasik vision correction system for general use. Initially, the Wavefront sensor makes a map of the eye’s imperfections, and this map is sent to the laser that is used in the Lasik vision correction portion of the operation. This allows for precise eye alteration in order for Lasik to present the best vision correction possible.

The Wavefront technology used in Lasik can be described easily at an informal level. A small, flat sheet of light (called a wavefront) is passed through the eye, reflected off of the retina, and passed back through the eye and is captured by the Wavefront machine. If the eye were perfect, the light would return as a flat sheet and be captured that way by the Lasik machine. However, any imperfections changes the way that the light returns, and this is detected by the Wavefront part of the Lasik process.

A number of these small, flat sheets of light are sent into each eye from various directions and the results returned generated a three dimensional map of the eye to be used in the Lasik vision correction process. In addition to the commonly known problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, there are more than 60 other patterns that are known and can possibly be corrected for.

All of this information generated by the Lasik sensor is converted by software into a set of directions to be carried out by the Lasik excimer laser. Ask your doctor about this exciting advance in Lasik vision correction, and see if this procedure is right for you!

Going for any lasik eye surgery ? Need more help? Now get more FREE

information about LASIK Surgery today by visiting our website at


http://lasik-surgery.explore-me.com/
and learn more about
LASIK Eye Surgery

and find about


LASIK Vision Correction

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Wavefront Lasik Vs. Traditional Lasik Surgery

There are many options to choose from when it comes to Lasik surgery. It’s hard to wade through the various procedures that have evolved over the past decade with regard to refractive eye surgery.

One of the latest techniques is called Wavefront Lasik. But, what are the differences, and what are the pros and cons of Wavefront Lasik versus traditional Lasik surgery?

With Wavefront, a guided laser takes three dimensional measurements of how your eye focuses light rays and processes images, in order to guide the laser while it reshapes the lens. It picks up irregularities and corrects them precisely. Traditional Lasik uses a microkeratome knife, or a doctor-guided laser, to cute a flap on the cornea and reshape the eye lens.

What Are The Pros of Each?

Wavefront Lasik is in the press a lot these days. Indeed, it has a lot going for it: it not only is able to guide the laser precisely, but it provides a screening tool for the doctor that maps exactly where the aberration is to begin with.

It can provide some very precise, individualized correction that might not be the case with traditional Lasik, glasses or contact lenses. Additionally, Wavefront proponents claim that this technology reduces the risk of post-Lasik complications like glare, halos, and problems with night vision.

Traditional microkeratome or laser Lasik has been around and tested for a very long time, up to 30 years with the former, and almost 15 with the latter. This provides an extreme experience level in most highly regarded eye surgeons, and a lot of data from which to learn how to avoid mistakes. This preponderance of data can easily show the percentage of risks in correcting each type of problem with the eye. Additionally, traditional Lasik is often the highest degree necessary to correct ordinary and common vision problems like astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia.

What Are The Cons Of Each?

Wavefront can be very expensive, because it’s newer than most procedures, and the equipment costs a lot to rent or purchase. These expenses are typically passed on to the consumer.

Although, Traditional Lasik cost is lower than Wavefront, Traditional does not do as well when treating very rare or ?higher order? problems with the eye. It does not draw the benefit from the customization that the laser is able to accomplish with the help of its unique equipment.


Some refractive eye surgeons agree that neither Wavefront nor conventional microkeratome or laser surgery can treat higher-order problems, and in extreme cases both can make new problems because of the artificial changes to the shape of the eye?s surface. Only a good eye surgeon can make the recommendation for either Wavefront Lasik or traditional Lasik surgery , and it?s best to get several opinions about your own eyes.

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My Intralase Wavefront laser eye surgery diary part 1


I just thort Id make a video diary, as I found other peoples very useful when I was deciding wether to have the procedure.

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What is a Wavefront Lasik Procedure Like?

Let’s walk through what a client experiences when attending a Lasik center for a Wavefront Lasik procedure. The procedure itself generally only takes between five and ten minutes for each eye in total, and both eyes are done during the same procedure. The actual time to reshape the eye with the Lasik excimer laser is usually less than 15 seconds per eye.

Any person’s vision problems are generated by small “aberrations” within the eye that prevents the light from focusing objects as they should. The Lasik equipment locates and classifies these aberrations and then processes them so that the Lasik physician will correct these and allow the light to focus properly once the eye has healed.

In a Wavefront Lasik procedure, the patient stares at one point while a light is sent into the eye, which is reflected back and read by a Lasik Wavefront sensor. The distortions in this reflected light are mapped using a small computer within the Lasik system, and then this information is used to guide the laser that treats the eye.

Once the light creates the map for the eye, the Lasik surgeon has to create a small flap to access the cornea. This is done using a laser (this type of Lasik procedure is known as IntraLasik, or bladeless Lasik) or a small blade known as a microkeratome.

This flap is then opened to allow the cornea to be reshaped by the Lasik system.The excimer laser actually reshapes the cornea, which is the crucial part of the Lasik procedure. In order to determine exactly how to reshape it, the map created earlier by the Wavefront sensor is used to direct the beam of light accurately. The Lasik physician uses these precise tools to get the clearest vision results possible.

This custom Lasik procedure can not only correct such standard problems as nearsightedness, but can also address aberrations that create light halos, glare, haze, or starburst patterns. Once the Lasik physician determines that all relevant aberrations have been eliminated, he replaces the flap in its proper position, where it adheres normally and will heal naturally.

As mentioned earlier, this entire Lasik process takes between ten and fifteen minutes per eye. A patient gets a mild sedative and eye numbing drops to make the procedure both relaxing and painless. Most people notice an improvement in vision due to Lasik almost immediately.

Once the Lasik procedure is finished, you will get some eye drop medication to lubricate and protect your eyes. This medication (and the liquid in the drops themselves) may cause some blurring, and so for this reason (and to avoid any eyestrain) you should arrange for someone else to drive you home. It is also a good idea to go to sleep as soon as possible after the Lasik operation in order to promote even faster healing.

To promote optimal healing the Lasik physician often gives a plastic shield to wear over your eyes for the first night or two. Follow closely any recommendations by the Lasik physician. Do further investigation into this great new lasik procedure, and get a clearer focus on your future!

Going for any lasik eye surgery ? Need more help? Now get more FREE

information about LASIK Surgery today by visiting our website at


http://lasik-surgery.explore-me.com/
and learn more about
LASIK Eye Surgery

and find about


LASIK Vision Correction

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Lasik Eye Surgery in 6 Minutes

This is the Science Friday (National Public Radio) video about lasik eye surgery. The funny thing about this video is that the narrator, who is probably also the producer, is a lot more nervous about LASIK laser vision correction than the patient himself. He is cool as a cucumber, I had LASIK myself, didn’t think it was a big deal and now I see fantastic. The video features Steven Vale, M.D., medical director of Acuity Laser Eye & Vision Center in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Dr. Vale is one of the most well-respected and experienced Lasik surgeons in the world. Dr. Vale has performed over 21,000 laser vision correction surgeries. Dr. Vale’s ability and experience really comes out in this otherwise realistic and detailed glimpse at the world of laser vision correction surgery.

Duration : 0:5:59

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