Did you know that traditional eye examinations are designed to detect just two corneal abnormalities - cylindrical and spherical? A cylindrical corneal abnormality results in astigmatism, while a spherical abnormality results in myopia and hyperopia (near sightedness and farsightedness).

Eye surgeons now have available a new technology that makes vision correction more precise. It's called "wavefront".

To correct poor vision Lasik eye surgery has become the popular choice. Lasik surgery links the condition of the patient's visual system to the Lasik laser for correction.

The incisions performed on the cornea of the eye are customized to the patient's individual needs. Accurate data concerning the condition of the patient's eyes is all important. The better the data collected on the condition of the eyes the better the result of the surgery. Wavefront technology as become the most promising method for collecting this necessary information.

Wavefront technology is a technology that is capable of measuring refraction at multiple points on the eye as light is reflected upon it. This creates a "map" of the patient's eye. Because each eye is unique the data from each eye must be carefully analyzed so that the Lasik laser maybe properly programmed.

Conditions within the cornea of every eye affect refraction. Some of these refractions are considered higher-order aberrations, which have been traditionally associated with irregular astigmatism. The ability to treat these aberrations can result in an improved outcome after Lasik surgery. This can increase the possibility of achieving 20/20 vision, or better.

Clinical trials using wavelength technology have shown that nearly 80% of Lasik eye surgery patients undergoing custom surgery achieved 20/20 vision. This is a higher number than those who underwent traditional Lasik surgery.

Another benefit of wavefront is in determining which patients are not candidates for Lasik surgery. Lasik surgery can actually exacerbate existing visual problems for some people

Wavefront technology can detect an infinite number of aberrations by using a fixation target along with an input laser beam. A wavefront sensor is used to measure the slope of the wavefront as it exits the eye. Then software determines the exact targets and dimensions of needed incisions.

When the laser light beam enters the eye, it produces a flat wavefront. In the perfect eye, a wavefront that is still completely flat will reflect back. In reality this beam of light will travel through a crystalline lens that is imperfect. The light then goes through an irregular cornea and other parts of the eye. All of this in combination causes the wavefront beam to become irregular; this provides the valuable data that determines the present shape of the cornea.

After wavefront is used to evaluate and diagnose existing aberrations in the eye, it is used to create the exact procedure for reshaping the cornea.

Wavefront technology is not new. It has been around for quite some time, but only recently has it been used to aid in the correction of human vision. Did you know that wavefront has been used for years by astronomers? Wavefront is used for adjusting the optics in their telescopes. When the reflecting mirror inside a telescope becomes deformed (as the cornea of an eye) it can be adjusted using wavefront data. The data resulting from wavefront technology is used to remove aberrations. In astronomy the Earth's atmosphere must be eliminated just like removing the aberrations found with astigmatism in the eye.

The bottom line: Wavefront technology is an advanced method for creating precise and individualized prescriptions for Lasik eye surgery patients. With wavefront, patients are more likely to have a successful Lasik experience.