The Wave Front technique is the last major advance in laser technology. While it is impossible to guarantee results with any refractive technique, Wave Front provides patients with the real possibility of achieving vision that is superior to glasses or contact lenses.
During the Wave Front technique, a beam of invisible light is reflected from the retina located in the back of the eye. As this light passes through the eye, it is affected by all of the focusing elements of the eye. A special sensor looks at this reflected light and uses information about the quality of the reflection create a map of the focusing errors of the eye. This map guides the laser an in addition to correcting myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, this map allows the laser to treat other types of focusing errors called higher order aberrations. Removing these focusing imperfections improves quality of vision, particularly at night. It is important to remember that other factors may influence the ability of the eye to see sharply. Cataracts and retinal problems, for example, can limit the eye’s ability to see. Current technology does not allow us to correct aberration with conventional glasses or contact lenses.
