What does wavefront surgery entail?

Wavefront surgery, also known as wavefront-guided LASIK or wavefront-optimized LASIK, is an advanced laser vision correction procedure that utilizes customized measurements to provide improved accuracy and precision in treating refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Here's a step-by-step explanation of what wavefront surgery entails:

1. Pre-operative Assessment:

Before the surgery, your ophthalmologist will perform comprehensive eye examinations, including corneal mapping with a wavefront aberrometer. This device measures the unique imperfections (wavefront aberrations) in the shape of your cornea and creates a highly detailed map.

2. Creating the Wavefront Map:

The wavefront aberrometer emits a beam of light into your eyes and captures the way the light is distorted as it passes through your cornea. This data is then analyzed and transformed into a comprehensive wavefront map that includes both lower-order (spherical, cylindrical, and oblique) and higher-order aberrations.

3. Customized Treatment Plan:

Based on the wavefront map, your ophthalmologist creates a personalized treatment plan. Unlike traditional LASIK, which corrects only lower-order aberrations, wavefront surgery also addresses the higher-order ones, resulting in a more precise and tailored correction.

4. Laser Treatment:

During the procedure, you will lie down on a comfortable chair with your head positioned under the laser. Numbing eye drops will be applied to ensure comfort during the surgery. The excimer laser system generates a highly focused beam of light that follows the customized wavefront map to reshape your cornea.

5. Corneal Reshaping:

The laser precisely removes microscopic amounts of corneal tissue according to the wavefront data. By correcting the imperfections in the corneal shape, the laser helps focus the incoming light directly onto the retina, improving the overall quality of your vision.

6. Flap Creation and Closure:

Similar to traditional LASIK, a thin corneal flap is created using a femtosecond laser or a mechanical microkeratome. The customized laser ablation is then performed, and the flap is carefully repositioned back onto the cornea. It adheres naturally without requiring sutures.

7. Post-operative Care:

Following the procedure, you will receive detailed post-operative instructions from your ophthalmologist. Typically, there is minimal discomfort, and most patients experience improved vision within a few hours. Regular follow-up appointments will be scheduled to monitor your progress and ensure optimal results.

Wavefront surgery is an advanced and highly effective technique that offers increased precision, accuracy, and visual quality compared to conventional LASIK. However, the suitability of this procedure depends on individual factors, and your ophthalmologist will recommend the most appropriate vision correction method based on your specific needs and corneal characteristics.