Reducing Side Effects with Custom LASIK

Traditional LASIK surgery is a safe and effective procedure that has improved the vision of millions of patients. Custom LASIK techniques were developed to make the procedure safer and more accurate, and to reduce the risk of post-surgical side effects. The San Antonio LASIK surgeons at South Texas Eye Institute use the CustomVue™advanced laser vision correction system, which employs the use of wavefront mapping and eye tracking technology, to produce improved visual results in our patients.

Wavefront technologyis used to capture a three-dimensional map of the eye. The wavefront system detects deviations in the shape of the cornea; these irregularities produce vision problems that affect the quality of your vision, and make it difficult to see objects at near and/or far distances. When the cornea is reshaped during custom LASIK, the computer uses the wavefront map to guide the excimer laser.

Eye tracking technologyscans the eye 1,000 times per second to detect movement and readjust the laser to accommodate for changes. This allows for more precise removal of corneal tissue and greatly improves patients' surgical outcomes. 

The Correction of Higher Order Aberrations

Traditional LASIK surgery is capable of correcting lower order aberrations, while both lower and higher order aberrations are treated with custom LASIK surgery.

Lower Order Aberrations

Lower order aberrations include:

• Myopia: Also called nearsightedness; results in difficulty seeing distant objects because the cornea is too steep
• Hyperopia: Also called farsightedness; results difficulty seeing near objects because the cornea is too flat
• Astigmatism: Results in out-of-focus vision at near or far distances because the eye is shaped more like a football than a baseball

Each of these vision conditions is caused by an abnormally shaped cornea and can be corrected with refractive surgery procedures such as LASIK, PRK, or the placement of implantable contact lenses (ICLs).

Higher Order Aberrations

Higher order aberrations are also caused by imperfections in the cornea. Some of these corneal deviations have names, such as comas, spherical aberrations, and trefoils. Others are referred to as mathematical equations. At this time, more than 60 higher order aberrations have been identified.

Higher order aberrations diminish a person's quality of vision and result in the following vision problems:

• Halos
• Glare
• Starbursts
• Double vision
• Difficulty seeing at night or in low light conditions

The development of wavefront mapping technology was a major milestone for the eye care field, as it has finally made it possible for surgeons to detect and treat higher order aberrations with the custom LASIK procedure.

Reduction in the Chance of Human Error

The custom LASIK procedure reduces the chance for surgeon error because a computer guides the laser during the corneal reshaping stage of surgery. The combination of the wavefront map, eye tracking technology, and the computer-guided laser improves the precision, accuracy, and safety of the procedure. Patients that undergo custom LASIK can expect a better visual outcome and fewer post-surgical side effects and complications.

The surgeons at our San Antonio laser vision correction practice have extensive experience performing LASIK surgery. Contact South Texas Eye Institute today to schedule your LASIK screening with us.