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News
Custom Lasik May Provide Opportunity To See More Clearly |
 The
field of laser vision correction has always been exciting.It
seems that every year, there is a discovery or advancement
that makes more people candidates for this remarkable
procedure. The results that have been achieved through
LASIK have particularly been stunning. LASIK is a
fantastic procedure, and this year brings an innovation
that makes LASIK the smart choice for millions.
In 2003, a new procedure called Custom LASIK will
become widely available in the United States. Custom
LASIK is truly a “customized ”LASIK procedure,
which has so far resulted in many patients achieving
greater than 20/20 vision.
The driving technology behind customized LASIK is
a new tool called the wavefront analyzer. Wavefront
analyzers are used to map “aberrations ”in
the eye. Aberrations are visual imperfections. There
are both lower order aberrations and higher-order
aberrations. Lower-order aberrations are imperfections
such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness)
and astigmatism. These are treatable with Conventional
LASIK. However, higher-order aberrations can have
a significant impact on one ’s quality of vision
and are often linked to visual glare and halos that
may cause night vision problems. Higher-order aberrations
cannot adequately be corrected with glasses, contacts,
or Conventional LASIK treatments.
How does the wavefront analyzer work? It maps lower
and higher-order aberrations by projecting waves of
light into a patient ’s eye and mapping the
waves that bounce back. By comparing the patient ’s
wavefront with a model of perfect vision, doctors
are able to create a personalized 3D map of the exact
corneal reshaping needed for each patient. To create
a “customized ”LASIK procedure, the map
is then programmed into the laser, enabling the surgeon
to address your individual vision requirements.
Custom LASIK is an impressive new development. So
what kind of results can you expect?In clinical trials,
by VISX Inc. of Santa Clara, CA, 189 patients with
mild nearsightedness were treated using a wavefront
system. Six months later, 94%of the patients saw 20/20
without glasses, and 74%saw 20/16 or better. In another
clinical trial performed by Alcon Inc. of Fort Worth,
TX, some patients received Conventional LASIK on one
eye and wavefront-guided treatment on the other. Many
patients reported that the wavefront-treated eye had
clearer and sharper vision, even though both eyes
were 20/20.
It seems that Custom LASIK may improve both visual
acuity, which is measured against standard numerical
outcomes such as 20/20, and the overall quality of
vision, such as increased visual crispness and clarity.
I believe this is one of the most significant advantages
of Custom LASIK. Many patients are coming out of surgery
and seeing sharper than ever. We are now able to focus
on the quality of vision, not just the quantity. What
I mean is that 20/20 has traditionally been measured
by a letter chart. It didn ’t matter how those
letters looked to you, it just mattered that you could
read them. But now Custom LASIK may make those letters
appear crisp and clear, as if someone had taken a
black inkpad and freshly stamped each letter in bold
block letters. The quality of your vision may be improved.
Soon, Custom LASIK will be widely available. Custom
LASIK might help you to see more clearly than you
ever thought possible. I think the first step for
you would be to go in for a consultation. You must
be sure to choose a reputable surgeon who makes you
feel comfortable. One good way to choose a surgeon
is to get a referral from one of your friends or relatives
who has had LASIK.
Talk to your eye care professional about Custom LASIK.
Won ’t it be interesting to find out if you
are a candidate?
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