Wavefronts are groups of waves which travel together through space with their combined surface being the front. In terms of telescopes, when these wavefronts pass through the atmosphere and also through telescope lenses the wavefront surfaces can become slightly misaligned, resulting in a distorted image at the destination. This runs parallel to the problem with human eyes, as when wavefronts pass through a cornea with irregularities, the surface alters and results in a distorted final image.  This is the basic origin of wavefront lasik surgery.

This is where adaptive optics comes in. The technology was designed to compensate for distortion of telescope imagery but has since been adapted by those in the optical sciences in order to provide greater ability to correct minor corneal surface aberrations.  Flat wavefronts are sent into the eye, and reflections from this are monitored closely which enables a map of the eye’s surface to be developed in minute detail. This technological advance has also allowed for human eyes to potentially be corrected beyond their natural state, enhancing vision to “superhuman” levels. This is called 20/10 vision.

Adaptive optics allows far superior LASIK treatments due to the level of detail each individual eye can be mapped to. This allows the programmable laser to provide far superior correction to the cornea. While 20/10 vision is currently unachievable, it is predicted that by 2010 it will be a fully realised feature of LASIK treatments.  Read more about Wavefront LASIK.

This sort of technology was originally used in astronomy to measure imperfections in mirrors and lenses. The system was refined by the 1970s, and has been tested for use in the eyes since the 1990s. The first application of wavefront guided LASIK was approved by the FDA in 2002.

Wavefront mapping is able to measure aberrations around 25 times more accurately than other methods. It works by sending a beam of light through the eye. This light is reflected back and the wavefront machine captures it, noting any distortions which will indicate higher or lower order aberrations.

Common problems such as nearsightedness arise from lower order aberrations, but there are many vision problems as a result of higher order aberrations that traditional treatments cannot correct. Each higher order aberration will be different between individuals, meaning that no two aberrations are exactly the same – like fingerprints. This is why wavefront technology provides more accurate results, producing a 3D diagram of the eye from which the laser reshapes the cornea accurately.

Once the mapping has been completed, computers will convert this data which acts as an instruction for the laser. This laser is what corrects the vision by reshaping the cornea. The best wavefront sensors now are integrated with the surgery systems, which include the VISX CustomVue system, and the LADARWave CustomCornea system. These are what allow each individual vision problems to be measured and treated for the best results possible.

Many people suffer from a variety of refractive errors including near-sightedness and long-sightedness as well as astigmatisms. With the LASIK procedure a laser is used to reshape the cornea of the eye which corrects these refractive errors.

In the LASIK treatment, a thin flap is cut in the surface of the cornea, which is then folded back at which point a programmed laser is used to sculpt the exposed area. This flap re-adheres when allowed to return to its natural state at the end of the operation.

Wavefront-Guided LASIK is a technological advancement which allows for greater individual accuracy in the programmed laser. A special device is used to gain ultra-accurate readings from your eye which in turn allows for improved quality of treatment. This form of treatment is highly recommended for those who have access to it.

Wavefront technology allows for the creation of a detailed map of your eye which allows all the tiny imperfections in the cornea that cause refractive errors to be addressed in minute accuracy. Wavefront provides patients with improved quality of vision compared to previous standard treatments.

Measurements are taken by a sensor which responds to a beam of light that is sent through your eye and focussed on the retina. To ensure great accuracy in taking these readings you are required to rest your chin on a piece of apparatus and fix your vision on a certain point of light.

Wavefront technology not only corrects the refractive errors already mentioned, but also corrects problems which cannot be addressed by the use of glasses or contact lenses. Whilst this is an excellent treatment that can give significantly improved vision, it is not a procedure for all problems. Your ophthalmologist will tell you what is right for you.

Read a step by step guide to wavefront lasik surgery procedure.

Before the surgery you should expect to have a thorough eye exam where all of the measurements and details of your eye will be taken by your eye doctor, including special wavefront analysis providing a completely unique result of measurements for you.

The surgeon will use these measurements to calculate the exact amount of LASIK eye correction that is needed, and the wavefront analysis will serve as a guide for the laser during treatment.

During any LASIK eye surgery, including wavefront, the protective surface of the eye (the cornea) is lifted creating a flap, and the laser will shape the layer underneath this flap. This flap is not removed completely from the eye, rather it is left anchored on one side allowing it to be replaced again at the end of the surgery. There are two methods by which this corneal flap is created, one using a precision surgical instrument and the other using a laser.

Once the flap has been created the surgeon will then use the laser to reshape the cornea underneath the flap in a way that matches the measurements taken in your pre-operative wavefront analysis. The flap will then be gently lowered and replaced and very shortly it will be held in place by the natural forces in the eye. The whole procedure is extremely short, probably around 20 minutes.

One of the most frequent questions asked of any LASIK surgery is ‘will it hurt?’ and the answer is no. The surgeon will give you numbing eye drops so that the local area will not feel any pain. You may feel pressure but this should be only mildly uncomfortable and will last an extremely short time. You will also be given eye drops to combat any symptoms of dry eyes after the wavefront lasik surgery procedure.

It only takes a matter of hours before the surface of the cornea will begin to heal itself to grow over the edge of the flap and seal into position. It is important, however, to make sure that this healing process is not interrupted, so you will be given protective eye goggles to wear immediately following treatment. The healing will be completed within a week or so following treatment.  Read more about lasik recovery.

One thing you should know upfront is that wavefront LASIK, also known as custom lasik, is going to cost more than the traditional surgery. Prices of all types of LASIK vary from provider to provider, depending on a number of factors, but are generally charged at a certain cost per eye.

The price quoted will be for one eye, so you must double this if you intend to get both eyes corrected, even if this is at the same time.

There will be extra charges in place for certain technology, including wavefront. Quoted prices may seem to differ widely with one provider offering $499 and the other $2000. The truth is that, while some companies may legitimately offer a low price, in many cases this offer will not apply to you and your requirements where more extensive correction is needed.

In the case of wavefront LASIK you can expect the increase in cost from traditional LASIK to be around $1000 more. Some surgeons, however, will not increase their cost for using this custom technology and instead will charge a standard fee for all procedures (dependant on your individual needs).

If you are daunted by the costs then you needn’t be as most providers will offer you an easy payment plan to help you pay the cost of your treatment in small amounts each month.

Purchasing laser treatment is an important decision, and hopefully one that will only need to be made once. For this reason spending that little extra to achieve better results is often the best way. Your eye doctor will advise you on whether wavefront LASIK would be a good way to cure your vision problems.

So what will the extra cost of custom wavefront LASIK bring you in terms of results? In most cases there is a highly increased chance of achieving 20/20 vision or better with wavefront LASIK, as well as better quality of sight in low-light conditions.

There is also less risk that your quality of vision will decrease when opting for this type of surgery, so make your choice wisely. It could be well-worth the initial investment for the benefits you will reap from choosing this particular option.  Wavefront Lasik recovery is also something you may want to read more about.

After your eyes have been tested you will be informed whether wavefront LASIK is an option for you. If so, using this technology will leave you with a greater chance of attaining 20/20 vision or better.

If you choose to go through with the surgery your doctor will schedule you for a pre-op appointment in which they will go through the procedure with you, as well as any pre or post-operative guidelines that you must adhere to.

This may include you not wearing contact lenses and only using glasses in the time before the procedure. They will also test your eyes which will be similar to any normal eye exam. Before or on the day of the procedure you may be expected to make part of your payment and to make the rest after a certain period of time.

To prepare you for surgery the doctor will cover up one eye and the eye that they will work on first will be taped open. You should be given drops to numb the eye so that you will not feel the work being done. They will then use an ‘eye speculum’ which is an instrument to keep your eye open during the operation on the eye.

The surgery will consist in cutting into your eye to make a flap over the surface, which you shouldn’t feel and which will only last a few seconds. This flap is then lifted so that the laser can get to work, reshaping the surface of your eye.

Wavefront lasik surgery is extremely quick and your doctor will soon let the flap back down and move onto the other eye. The procedure for each eye will be the same and the whole process is extremely short from start to finish.

After surgery the doctor will make sure that your eyes do not dry out by giving you drops, as well as protective shields to wear over your eyes for a length of time.

You should rest and after a day or so your eyesight should be considerably improved and will keep improving over time until it reaches its optimal level. You must then keep using the drops and visit your doctor for a check up – and that’s really all there is to it.

If you haven’t yet, read an introduction to wavefront lasik surgery.

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.