Custom Laser Eye Surgery Vs. Standard Laser Eye Surgery
If you have been looking into laser eye surgery then you've probably come across two different forms of the treatment:
- Standard laser eye surgery (LASIK)
- Custom laser eye surgery (wavefront LASIK)
Standard laser eye surgery is the classic method used to treat long and short-sightedness, where custom laser surgery can treat other types of vision problems.
What is Wavefront LASIK?
This kind of laser eye surgery is not suitable for everyone. However, for those that can be treated with these methods, there is a great success rate.
Some eye conditions cannot be fixed with standard laser eye surgery, and will require custom treatment. This includes those that have poor vision in low light conditions.
This kind of treatment works by testing the eye for 'aberrations' – these are simply the different kinds of visual errors in the eye. There are two main types of aberration, the standard ones can be treated using traditional laser eye surgery, where high-order aberrations can only be corrected using custom laser eye surgery. About 17% of all aberrations are this type, meaning that these patients will need custom laser eye surgery.
When this treatment option is chosen, a custom mapping of the eye will be performed meaning that the treatment received is completely customised to the individual eye.
Results of Wavefront LASIK
The statistics show that 80% of patients will experience 20/20 vision or better with traditional LASIK surgery, and this number rises to 90-94% of patients who opt for wavefront LASIK. This is due to the fact that the laser uses the individualised map of the eye during the treatment, making it much more successful. The laser is not guided in such an accurate way when it comes to traditional LASIK surgery.
Choosing custom laser eye surgery also means that there's a much larger chance that your improved vision will be retained for longer, as well as reduced glare and disturbances with night vision.
Is Wavefront LASIK Suitable for You?
As mentioned earlier, this kind of laser eye surgery is not suitable for everyone, and for some people it is unnecessary, only adding to the cost.
It's important to ask your doctor for advice on your specific vision problems, and which treatments will best improve them. They will let you know which one is suitable, or whether you have the choice between both.
The wavefront treatment option is going to be more costly than traditional LASIK, though it could work as a more long-term investment for your eyes.
If you do choose to opt for wavefront surgery then you will not be making your treatment any more complicated or painful. The main difference lies in the results and improvements to your vision. Again, you should speak to your doctor to learn more about the treatment process.