So, who qualifies for wavefront LASIK and who will benefit most from it?

First, there are certain conditions that may only be fixed using this type of laser treatment, for example improvement of vision in low light conditions. Wavefront mapping tests the eye for ‘aberrations’ which are visual errors of which there are standard and higher-order aberrations.

Standard aberrations can be treated with traditional LASIK surgery though high-order aberrations are only possible to be corrected with wavefront technology.

About 15% to 17% of all aberrations are of this higher-order and wavefront surgery will be especially beneficial and recommended to those who have a larger number of higher-order aberrations.

Your doctor will be able to let you know whether your treatment can be done using traditional or wavefront technology, or either.

In most cases you will be able to choose between traditional or wavefront LASIK, and wavefront could prove the better option for many reasons. Although the costs associated with wavefront LASIK are higher than with traditional LASIK, if you qualify what you will be getting is a life-time investment for your eyes.

The wavefront surgery requires much more technology which sometimes results in better outcomes for the patient and better quality of vision.

This is especially in night-time and dim environments, which is one reason why you may opt for wavefront as opposed to traditional LASIK surgery. There is also the greater overall chance of sustaining this improved vision for a longer period of time.

The important thing is to discuss with your doctor what the best option is for you.

Choosing wavefront or custom LASIK over traditional LASIK will not complicate your surgery or make it any more painful, in fact it will be as quick and as pain-free as traditional LASIK: the only difference will be the results in vision and the fact that the laser is guided by completely customized wavefront technology.

Wavefront LASIK is recommended for anyone who qualifies and is interested in benefitting from the highest quality of improved vision.

While this can be highly beneficial, it is not based on a completely individualized map of the patient’s eye (in the same way that glasses and contact lenses are shaped based on average measurements).

Wavefront lasik eye surgery, on the other hand, seeks to provide more accurate results by providing this individual map (or waveprint).

Wavefront technology was originally used in astronomy to monitor light entering telescopes, and was eventually adapted for laser eye correction. The first wavefront mapping of the eye was performed in 1994, and since then has provided an advancement of original lasik in many individual cases.

Also known as custom LASIK, wavefront LASIK involves a unique treatment from person-to-person by using three-dimensional measurements of the eye in order to be used as a guide for reshaping the surface of the cornea and improving vision.

Wavefronts are measured by devices known as aberrometers which detect the overall refractive power error of each eye. During this process, light is sent into the eye in specific patterns, where any difference between the light that is measured by the eye and the light being sent is considered an aberration. This mapping is then be used as an accurate guide for laser reshaping of the cornea.

In other words, the procedure is more exact–more customized to your unique individual eye.

This system of mapping is the main difference between traditional and wavefront lasik treatment. Studies have shown a larger percentage of patients achieving 20/20 vision after wavefront LASIK than the traditional eye surgery. Wavefront LASIK is 25 more times as accurate as traditional LASIK since the data is collected from hundreds of different points on the eye’s surface.

After this, the cornea reshaping is customized from these measurements to suit each individual. No two wavefront waveprints are the same and in this way each wavefront LASIK treatment will be catered to the individual 100%.

Wavefront LASIK can be extremely advantageous to some, yet to others it is unnecessary and will have no effect. This will all depend on the exact measurements of your eye, and your wavefront mapping will determine which treatment is best for you.

It has been used in the past to help those with nearsightedness, farsightedness and also astigmatism. It is also used for other refractive errors of the eye that are not possible to correct with glasses or contact lenses.

Read about wavefront lasik recovery and healing.