Wavefront Mapping
If you’re interested in laser eye surgery, you may have heard about wavefront technology and wavefront eye mapping. But how exactly can wavefront mapping help you? Let’s explore how it can be used to get the best results possible from your LASIK procedure.
What Is Wavefront Mapping?
Wavefront mapping is designed to help eye doctors more accurately diagnose eye problems. Traditional vision testing is subjective — using a phoropter, the patient looks through lenses of different powers to see which produces the best image. Wavefront eye mapping, on the contrary, is objective and doesn’t rely on the patient’s perception.
With wavefront technology, also called aberrometry, your doctor can get a picture of your optic system and any aberrations, or vision errors. These vision errors are identified automatically based on how the light waves traveled through your eye.
This allows your doctor to identify both lower-order aberrations, like nearsightedness or astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations, which are more complex. It’s these higher-order aberrations that can cause side effects like halos or ghosting after LASIK. Wavefront mapping can help reduce these side effects, improving your LASIK results.
How Is Wavefront Mapping Performed?
Aberrometry measures how a wavefront of light passes through the refractive parts of your eye—both your cornea and your crystalline lens. For the wavefront eye exam, your doctor uses a device called an aberrometer. The process is simple:
- Place your chin on the aberrometer’s chin rest.
- Look into the device.
- Focus your eyes on a point of light for a few seconds.
With these three simple steps, the wavefront eye exam is complete and a map of your eye will be printed for your doctor. Any distortions taking place as the light travels through your eye are aberrations. Those aberrations are then identified accurately and can be addressed during LASIK eye surgery.
Keep in mind that no set of eyes are optically perfect, so every wavefront testing result will contain some distortions. That’s why wavefront mapping results are sometimes called an “optical fingerprint.” No two eyes produce exactly the same results.
How Is Your Wavefront Map Used?
Once your eye doctor has your wavefront testing results, your wavefront map is used to create a unique and personalized treatment plan for you. In other words, you’ll get a custom procedure designed just for your eyes. Because no two eyes are the same, no two LASIK procedures should be the same, either.
How Dello Russo Laser Vision Uses Wavefront Mapping for You
At Dello Russo Laser Vision, we use wavefront technology to provide you with a procedure that addresses your exact vision needs. Because the technology is so precise, we can create a precise vision correction plan. You’ll get more effective results and experience fewer side effects. We can also establish a more precise estimate of the cost of your procedure.
If you’re interested in wavefront eye mapping, schedule your free initial consultation today. Meet with one of our experienced Dello Russo eye surgeons and we’ll begin putting together your personalized treatment.
