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| Wavefront LASIK, says Terrence O'Brien, removes the subtlest of aberrations on the eye's surface. |
In the years since LASIK surgery first hit the national scene as a way for people to reduce their dependence on glasses, Terrence P. O'Brien has become an expert in performing the laser procedure. These days, though, the ophthalmologist is getting better results than ever in improving people's vision. A new technique called wavefront custom-guided corneal ablation, that's still in an experimental stage, is allowing him to detect and reshape the surface of the cornea to correct variations which conventional lasers miss. The wavefront procedure compared with the earlier technique, O'Brien says, is like painting spots on a wall with a fine brush instead of a paint roller.As remarkable as the human eye is, subtle aberrations like astigmatism still produce blurred vision. But beyond these easy-to-spot anomalies, even people with near-perfect vision can have flaws that are nearly impossible to detect. With the new technique, O'Brien captures these patterns, obtaining a precise map of the wavefront pattern of the eye and even distinguishes "good" waves from "bad" ones. He then programs the patient's own prescription into the laser and applies a new computerized component called variable spot scanning—his paintbrush—to carry out the customized surgery. "Rather than just treating a shape, the laser can now carve a lens into the cornea that's customized to an individual wavefront pattern," O'Brien explains. "It gives us the potential to achieve super-normal vision." Hopkins Medical News
Spring 2002 |
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