That is why, in order to have safe laser eye surgery performed, it is critical that you are completely comfortable with the laser clinic that you have selected, the staff and the surgeon who will be performing this procedure. To minimize your risk, it is therefore important that a number of processes be accomplished to check the experience and reputation of the clinic.

First of all, it is important to know that safe laser eye surgery is the common experience for many who undergo this procedure. However, a checklist evaluating the clinic and staff would include asking for referrals and asking the staff a number of questions that will increase your level of comfort with those that will be attending you.

The Safety of Laser Eye Surgery

One of the common concerns expressed by those who are considering laser eye surgery is the potential of losing their eyesight. It is important to understand that there have been significant strides in laser eye surgery. It has been recently reported in various medical journals that the incidences of complications has been reduced significantly.

The reality of safe laser eye surgery has become so commonplace that the miniscule percentage of patients experiencing difficulties were reduced from a reported five percent down to one percent of patients who received the surgery. Furthermore, those complications were not permanent and negative results were resolved through additional treatments. Additionally, it is important to note that permanent or partial loss of eyesight, due to complications, was exceptionally rare.

The Key to a Positive Experience

Choosing the right surgeon to perform the operation is the foundation to a safe laser eye surgery experience. Selecting the right surgeon can be accomplished through a number of processes. These processes include the use of referrals from your regular eye doctor, friends, neighbors and business acquaintances who may have undergone this successful procedure.

In addition, when investigating the various surgeons available, there are numerous web sites and associations that can be contacted that will provide a list of certified surgeons that can perform safe laser eye surgery. Also, a reputable surgeon will take you through the various steps that will explain the procedure and your being a good candidate for the Lasik surgical procedure.

Another key aspect to safe laser eye surgery is being comfortable with the staff at the eye care clinic. The technicians and other supporting staff should give the air of professionalism. Also, you should be comfortable with their knowledge and expertise in the familiarity with the equipment that will be used in the performance of the surgery. It is highly recommended that, because it is your precious eyesight, that you ask numerous questions. These questions should be answered to your satisfaction and should leave no doubt in your mind and heart as to the capability of those that will be assisting in the surgical procedure.

The Wavefront analyzer, also called an aberrometer, was introduced to the world of LASIK eye surgery in 2003. Doctors say it can result in you having clearer and sharper vision than ever before. It analyzes the way light travels through your eye, compares that data to the way travels through an eye with perfect vision, and creates a 3D map of your vision, demonstrating aberrations in your vision.

That map is programmed into the laser, and then the laser can treat your eye based on that custom map. You may be a good candidate for Custom LASIK if you have mild to moderately high degrees of nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, combined with what is called “higher order aberrations” in your eye. These are small imperfections in the eye that are linked to halos, visual glare and other problems such as poor contrast sensitivity, that are not treatable with today’s eyeglasses, contacts, or conventional LASIK. It is even likely that night vision will improve.

Pupil size and the thickness of the cornea may indicate a procedure other than Wavefront. Also, if your higher order aberrations are not pronounced, you may be better off having the less expensive Conventional LASIK surgery.

The actual procedure is identical in Wavefront LASIK and Conventional LASIK. It is in the pre-operative testing and the technique for programming the computer with your individual treatment parameters where the two procedures differ. Surgeons who use the Wavefront analyzer say that it brings a whole new level of accuracy to the surgery. The Wavefront system provides information on more than just the surface of the eye and refractive error. It demonstrates how the whole optical system processes light. It is said that the difference in results with the two surgeries is like the difference between standard television and high definition television.

Wavefront LASIK is still a very new procedure, as it was just approved in 2003. The medical profession understands a lot about the eye’s lower-order aberrations and their stability, but far less is known about higher-order aberrations. So, not even the most skilled surgeon can predict how higher-order aberrations will change over the years.

You have to understand that this is still surgery and complications are still possible. Although it is possible that you will not ever need glasses or contact lenses again, it is by no means guaranteed. It is even possible that your quality of vision will diminish.

Not everyone is eligible for Wavefront or Custom LASIK eye surgery. But for those who are, this new technology improves the possible results, diminishing complications and giving new hope to those with halo, glare and contrast sensitivity issues that cannot be corrected with standard LASIK or corrective lenses.