Custom (“Wavefront”) LASIK

"Custom" LASIK Surgery (Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis)

Adopted from Dr. Soroudi’s Book: Advanced Refractive Surgery

Conceptually, LASIK is a very simple surgical procedure that involves two steps: cutting and lifting a small "contact lens-like" flap from a thin superficial layer of the cornea (about 100-120um in thickness), followed by reshaping of the underlying corneal tissue to correct the refractive error (near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism). It is here where a computer generated "wavefront" map of your eye is programmed into the laser to provide a "custom" treatment of all of your eye’s visual imperfections. This “custom” treatment is intended to provide you with the best, most clear vision, without haloes, glare, or any other “higher order aberrations” that can also adversely affect your vision. Needless to say, glasses and contacts do NOT correct such imperfections, so utilizing this technology, your vision will potentially be better than what you currently see with your glasses or contact lenses!

"Higher Order Aberrations” that “Custom” LASIK surgery can eliminate"

The following image best summarizes what happens during this quick & completely painless procedure:

2&3: A very thin (120um) “flap” is created using an extremely accurate mechanical device called a microkeratome. Dr. Soroudi posesses and only utilizes the Zyoptix-XP (http://www.zyoptixusa.com/111ZyoptixXP.aspx) technology to perform this step.

This is truly the most advanced Microkeratome technology available in the U.S. today and rivals the same level of accuracy and predictability as the intralase laser which can be utilized to do the same thing using a “femptosecond” laser (called “all-laser” LASIK). It must be noted here that there have been over 100 studies that have shown no difference in visual outcome between these two technologies.

4: The LASIK Flap is then gently lifted, which provides the laser access to the corneal tissue that needs to be reshaped.

5: A computer controlled excimer laser delivers overlapping pulses of cool ultraviolet light to the exposed corneal tissue, ablating or “evaporating” microscopic layers of the cornea.

Although Dr. Soroudi is certified and experienced to also utilize some of the other advanced excimer laser technologies around (e.g., the wavelight allegretto and the autonomous lasers), Dr. Soroudi posesses and utilizes the newest version of the STAR VISX S4 “flying spot” laser with “iris registration” technology, which has the widest range of treatment options compared to any other laser platform around. This incredibly accurate machine performs CUSTOM treatment for Myopia, Hyperopia, as well as high Astigmatism. The VISX S4 even treats superficial corneal scars by “ablating” scars/opacities that may affect vision (this procedure is called Phototherapeutic Keratectomy (PTK). Of note, this is the same laser used to perform LASIK on Dr. Soroudi’s own eyes.

7: Once the reshaping is done, the flap is folded back on the eye where it self-seals within seconds. The entire procedure takes approximately a minute per eye, and although your vision will improve immediately, it’ll be just about 20/20 (if not better) in a few days!