CustomVue LASIK
CustomVue Wavefront
VISX® Wavefront-Guided LASIK for Correction of Myopic Astigmatism
(CustomVue™ LASIK Laser Treatment)
Wavefront Technology
Available at our Laser Vision Correction Centers in Stockton, Tracy and Lodi, “Custom LASIK” or “Wavefront-Driven LASIK” is a laser vision technology that allows a surgeon to personalize a LASIK procedure to potentially improve the already excellent results obtained with traditional laser vision correction. This procedure uses wavefront technology, which provides previously unattainable diagnostic information.
History
Wavefront technology was first developed in 1978 by Josef Bille, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Applied Physics at the University of Heidelberg, to measure wavefront distortions that occurred when light traveling through the atmosphere entered a telescopic lens. This technology removed any visual distortion or aberrations from the atmosphere allowing astrophysicists to more accurately view images of the stars and planets.
Ophthalmologists now utilize this technology to record detailed information about the visual characteristics of the eye. Unlike standard measuring devices such as corneal topography, which measure the cornea, or front surface of the eye, the wavefront scans the way the entire optical system processes light.
“Fingerprint” of the Eye
Wavefront analysis works by measuring the distortion or irregularities of the eye, known as higher-order aberrations. When a ray of light first enters the eye, it passes through the cornea to the lens and vitreous, ultimately reaching the retina. As light bounces off the retina and returns back through the cornea, the wavefront analysis detects and documents these distortions, which are unique to each individual. Because each patient has a unique visual optical system, the wavefront data has been likened to a fingerprint.
Custom LASIK
Once the wavefront data has been documented for an individual patient, the next step is to use this information to utilize the excimer laser to correct the higher-order visual aberrations. The surgeon can then determine what adjustments must be made to the corneal surface to produce a clear, crisp image for the unique individual needs of each patient. The use of wavefront technology to provide a more precise laser vision correction is known as “Custom LASIK” or “Wavefront-Driven LASIK.” Data suggests that the 5-10 percent of patients who demonstrate higher-order aberrations are the patients that will significantly benefit from Custom LASIK treatments. Other patients may benefit from Custom LASIK to a smaller degree.
The Complete System
Every major laser manufacturer is actively working to bring this technology to the market. The VISX® laser utilizes The VISX® WavePrint™ System including the WavePrint Map, 3D ActiveTrak™ Eyetracker and Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™).
The WavePrint™ Map is the diagnostic tool that documents the precise analysis of the unique visual system. The 3D ActiveTrak™ follows the tiny motions of the eye instantaneously and automatically in all three dimensions, repositioning the laser as the eye moves slightly to ensure accuracy. The VSS™ is an exclusive VISX® laser technology that allows for a larger treatment area than previously available. This offers the physician greater flexibility in developing a more personalized laser vision procedure, when pupil size may be a consideration.
Statements regarding the potential benefits of wavefront-guided LASIK (CustomVue) are based upon the results of a clinical trial. These results are indicative of not only the CustomVue treatment but also the care of the clinical physicians, the control of the surgical environment by those physicians, the clinical trial’s treatment parameters and the clinical trial’s patient inclusion and exclusion criteria. Although many clinical trial patients after the CustomVue procedure saw 20/20 or better and/or had or reported having better vision during the day and at night, compared to their vision with glasses or contact lenses before the procedure, your results may vary.
Only an eye care professional trained in laser vision correction can determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the CustomVue procedure. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with the CustomVue treatment. Before deciding whether to have the CustomVue procedure, you should ask your doctor for and carefully review a Patient Information Booklet. It is important to discuss the risks associated with the procedure and any questions you may have about the procedure with your doctor.
To learn more about CustomVue LASIK, contact our Laser Vision Correction Center at any of our locations (Stockton, Tracy, Lodi).
