laser eye surgery vs contacts

Traditional LASIK vs. Custom LASIK

The differences between traditional LASIK and custom LASIK are comparable to the differences between using a typewriter and a word processor. The typewriter will still do an excellent job of recording your words, but the word processor will spell-check, make corrections as you go, and do dozens of other very useful actions that a typewriter could never do, like store your document. Traditional LASIK vs. custom LASIK–the difference is in the technological progress.

Wavefront Technology

Laser technology is what made PRK, LASIK and other laser eye surgeries possible. For years, laser surgery enabled many to see clearly without corrective lenses. This leap in technology made it possible for many workers and athletes to keep jobs where glasses and even contact lenses were prohibilaser eye surgeryresearchers continued to find ways to improve laser eye surgery, they developed variations of LASIK to address problems an occasional patient experienced with the corneal flap or some other aspect of the procedure. Eventually, the laser itself was improved. The resulting wavefront technology is the same as used by the Hubble telescope.

Wavefront laser technology allows your custom LASIK ophthalmologist to customize your treatment to precise detail. The wavefront laser is able to diagnose your vision correction needs as well as guide the laser during treatment with precision based upon the diagnostic data. Wavefront calasikgnose both lower and higher order aberrations, which is beyond the capabilities of traditional LASIK.

Before wavefront, diagnosis of lower order aberrations was done using traditional eye examination technology. Diagnosis of higher order aberrations was done using manual calculations. Treatment based on these diagnostics resulted in outcomes that were good, but less accurate and less customized.

Consider the Downside, Too

There are few negatives associated with custom LASIK, but your ophthalmologist will evaluate whether these will affect your LASIK results. One of these is cost. You can expect that diagnosis and treatment with state of the art equipment will be more expensive than with traditional methods.

The only other concern specific to custom LASIK is that wavefront treatment cannot under-correct. Some LASIK patients require retreatment and ophthalmologists like to leave enough extra corneal tissue to work with if retreatment is needed. Undercorrecting gives your ophthalmologist that helpful bit of wiggle-room after you have healed.

About the Author

For anyone interested in learning more about traditional LASIK vs. custom LASIK in the Chicago, Arlington Heights or Schaumburg, Illinois area please visit the website of Doctors for Visual Freedom where an experienced custom LASIK ophthalmologist can answer your questions.

laser eye surgery vs glasses/contacts?

I recently had to start wearing glasses and so far don’t care too much about them. So I was thinking about getting contacts or laser eye surgery . But I am only 17 and don’t know if it is too safe or how expensive it is. If anyone has any advise i would be very thankful.

It’s expensive if you do it right. There are fly-by-night operations that might give you a deal. But if you need a touch up a year later, the guarantee is no good, because they’ve gone out of business and are nowhere to be found. If I remember right, it cost about $1500 per eye.

I thought it was wonderful. My doctor recommended PCLI. http://www.pcli.com/. It was superb!! They provided a lot of information (including a DVD). It was so professional, so thorough. They thought of every little detail. The entire surgery took about a minute and a half – absolutely pain-free. And it was a miracle. I could see immediately. I came back half a year later for an exam, and they improved my vision even more with another quickie surgery.

Consult thoroughly with your eye doctor. The doctor will tell you when is the right time for how your eyes are changing. Also not everyone has thick enough corneas to accommodate the surgery.