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Lasik technology

During lasik, a thin flap of superficial tissue is folded back from the corneal surface. The laser reshapes the underlying bed of corneal tissue and the flap is then repositioned to its original state where it quickly adheres. This allows rapid healing and quick restoration of vision. Healing is fast enough for most patients to return to work the next day.

Dr. Jones uses the VISX Star S4 laser which is the highest upgrade of the VISX laser. VISX has been at the forefront of laser vision correction technology from the beginning and is the only company of the three major refractive laser companies dedicated solely to laser vision correction.

The VISX S4 performs active eye tracking to account for small movements of the eye during the procedure. This 3-D infrared eye tracker is able to verify and safety check the eye's position before and between each laser pulse to assure accurate laser placement over the pupil. The ActiveTrak, as it is called, eases your anxieties over being able to focus on the red fixation light during the procedure. Proper centration of the laser beam is essential for successful treatment.

Variable flying spot technology produces an exceptionally smooth and precise treatment. The VISX laser also spares corneal tissue which is important for treating corneas that are thinner than average. Unlike other lasers, the VISX does not require eye drop pupil dilation for treatment. Studies have shown that artificial dilation of the pupil can result in a small decentration of the treatment. VISX has also developed patented iris recognition technology for cyclotortional registration and tracking that is not available on other lasers. Finally, VISX offers CustomVue or wavefront guided treatment which is discussed in detail below.

CustomVue Wavefront Guided Treatment

With CustomVue™ or Wavefront Guided laser vision correction, a new standard is established, providing a precise level of measurement and correction never before possible. Your eyes and your vision are as unique as your fingerprints or your DNA. Using WaveScan® based digital technology, we can now identify, measure and correct imperfections in an individual's eyes much more precisely than with standard methods used for glasses and contact lenses.

The custom LASIK Wavefront mapping system works by projecting light rays onto your eye. Those light rays make up a "wavefront" that travels toward the back of the eye. Using a sensor containing hundreds of microscopic optical lenses, custom LASIK wavefront mapping measures how much your optical system distorts the wavefront by comparing it with the "virgin" wavefront, which is undistorted before it enters the eye. These sophisticated measurements produce a numerical fingerprint of the entire eyes optical distortions, permitting an accurate assessment of your unique visual profile. This information is transferred to the laser, providing a new level of precision and accuracy.

Use of the custom wavefront guided mapping opens the path to the therapeutic application of laser vision correction technology. It gives doctors the ability to correct more complex visual conditions, and may potentially help patients whose previous laser vision procedures didn't produce the desired results.