Wavefront LASIK Technology

The development of wavefront technology marked a major milestone in the field of laser eye surgery. Wavefront technology is used to measure the corneal imperfections of the eye before patients undergo laser eye surgery procedures such as LASIK or PRK. At the Black Hills Regional Eye Institute, our laser eye surgery specialists offer custom wavefront LASIK technology to patients that want to achieve superior visual results.  

In conventional refractive surgery procedures such as LASIK and PRK, an excimer laser is used to correct the patient's lower order aberrations; these include nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. Wavefront technology takes the procedure one step further by producing a more accurate map of the patients eye. The wavefront map is capable of detecting the higher order aberrations that cause vision problems such as:

• Glare
• Halos
• Blurring
• Ghost vision
• Double vision
• Poor contrast sensitivity
• Appearance of starbursts
• Difficulty seeing at night or in low vision conditions

Using three-dimensional measurements, wavefront technology focuses on every shape and contour of the individual’s cornea, revealing how the eye focuses on an image.  Next, a 3D map is produced and used to guide a laser over the contours of the cornea, reshaping it to allow light to properly focus on the retina. Each patient has a uniquely shaped eye and cornea; wavefront technology allows our LASIK surgeons to customize the procedure to each patient and provide them with the best possible results.

How Does Wavefront Differ from Basic LASIK?

Wavefront differs from conventional LASIK because it can detect the higher order aberrations that affect your quality of vision. A more accurate diagnosis of your corneal imperfections allows for more precise correction of the refractive errors that cause poor vision.

Although LASIK results vary depending on the individual, the majority of patients that undergo custom wavefront LASIK experience 20/20 vision or better. Most patients experience little to no side effects after surgery, as many of the side effects associated with traditional LASIK are addressed with wavefront LASIK.   Wavefront LASIK also reduces the chance of your vision worsening over time.  

Overall wavefront LASIK technology offers a number of advantages when it comes to choosing which laser eye surgery is right for you. Wavefront LASIK can:

• Offer a more precise correction
• Result in 20/20 vision or better
• Eliminate common side effects including contrast sensitivity, halos, and glare

What to Expect Before and After Surgery

Patients that undergo wavefront LASIK will follow the same general pre and post-operative instructions to help them prepare for and recover from surgery.  There are no added steps that will need to be considered on the patients end to have a successful surgery. Recovery time is the same and the end results are superior to conventional LASIK.  

If you are still unsure of which procedure is best suited for your situation, schedule a consultation at Black Hills Regional Eye Institute.  Each individual situation is different and our physicians can help guide you to find the procedure that best suits your needs. Our physicians are eager to point you in the right direction to a life with better vision.