What Makes a LASIK Procedure “Custom?”
- Posted on: Apr 6 2018
Dr. Gregory Pamel has gone to great lengths to remain at the forefront of laser vision correction technology, because he believes his patients deserve the absolute best quality treatment. One of the most exciting recent advances in LASIK technology is the development of “custom LASIK,” which improves upon the safety and accuracy of traditional LASIK for exceptional visual results. Read on as Dr. Pamel explains what distinguishes a “custom” LASIK procedure from other LASIK procedures.
Tailored to the Eye’s Unique “Fingerprint”
Traditional or standard LASIK is a perfectly good option to reduce or eliminate the need to wear glasses or contact lenses. It works by correcting vision using the patient’s eyeglass prescription. However, traditional LASIK is not truly customized to the eye’s specific characteristics, as eyeglass prescriptions are not unique. Millions of people can share the same prescription. While the results are good, they aren’t extraordinary.
Custom LASIK, on the other hand, takes into account the unique characteristics of a patient’s eye — particularly its refractive error and its focusing imperfections, known as higher-order aberrations. When performing custom LASIK the surgeon uses information more specific than the information included in a standard eyeglass prescription.
Types of Custom LASIK Procedures
Dr. Pamel offers two types of custom LASIK procedures.
Wavefront-optimized LASIK with the Allegretto Wavelight platform is safe, accurate and produces 20/20 vision in the majority of patients. This procedure involves taking detailed pre-operative measurements of the cornea and calibrating the laser that performs treatment specifically to the patient’s needs. One of the advantages of wavefront-optimized LASIK is that it is less likely than traditional LASIK to cause visual side effects like glare from bright lights and poor night vision after surgery.
Topography-guided laser vision correction with Contoura™ Vision uses special instrumentation and technology to create a customized treatment plan based on the shape and topography of the patient’s cornea. The laser that performs treatment is then calibrated specifically to the patient’s corneal topography. Results with Contoura are even more precise and predictable than they are with wavefront-optimized treatment. To give you some context: wavefront-guided LASIK measures approximately 200 points of curvature around the cornea; Contoura measures 22,000 points for truly individualized treatment.
Schedule a Consultation with Dr. Pamel to Discuss Custom LASIK
For more information about wavefront-optimized LASIK or topography-guided LASIK, Dr. Pamel invites you to schedule a consultation at the Manhattan or Astoria offices of Pamel Vision and Laser Group. Please call (212) 355-2215 or email us today to book a visit.
Posted in: LASIK
