LASIK — Technology
For years, the physicians at Wolfe Eye Clinic have been leaders in LASIK laser vision correction. In fact, our physicians have been leaders in the development of laser vision correction and were the first to bring this technology to Iowa where they have been performing refractive surgery since 1984. Our physicians have been published in medical journals and textbooks and have helped educate many other physicians in the field of laser vision correction. Many of our physicians also have special fellowship training. Wolfe Eye Clinic has a long history of advancing eye care in Iowa and has continued in this tradition with refractive surgery.
IntraLase: All-Laser LASIK
Wolfe Eye Clinic surgeons have performed nearly 25,000 LASIK procedures to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, giving patients the possibility of a life free from glasses and contacts. Since 2002, LASIK has become even more accurate and precise with the adoption of IntraLase, an all-laser, bladeless technology used for creating the corneal flap during LASIK surgery. The LASIK procedure has not always been an all-laser procedure. The first step, creation of the corneal flap, was historically performed with a handheld mechanical microkeratome using a metal blade. Today, Wolfe Eye Clinic surgeons are able to remove the mechanical cutting device and replace it with the precision of a laser.
IntraLase is the first all-computerized, all-laser approach to LASIK surgery. This approach offers our surgeons complete control over flap size, depth, location and hinge orientation. The minimally invasive technique creates very precise flaps and removes most of the surgical risk associated with making corneal flaps. The laser offers surgeons ease of operation and a way to create highly accurate, precise and reproducible incisions of any shape at any location or depth within the cornea. Such precision virtually eliminates corneal flap complications.
We have found that patients are excited to learn about this technology. The higher degree of comfort and safety, virtually no risk of flap complications and more predictable flap outcomes increase satisfaction in the experience and outcome. After creation of the corneal flap, the inner cornea is reshaped with the excimer laser to correct the refractive error. The end result is a more precise LASIK procedure. IntraLase was first available in Iowa at Wolfe Eye Clinic in 2002, and Wolfe Eye Clinic is still one of the few select practices to use the IntraLase laser in Iowa today.
Excimer Laser Technology
The development of the excimer laser has ushered us into the “Laser Age” of refractive surgery. This technology provides an unparalleled degree of precision and predictability. The excimer laser is a computer-controlled ultraviolet (invisible) laser that sculpts the cornea into a flatter shape to correct vision. It uses a “cold” beam that works by breaking intermolecular bonds without damaging surrounding tissue. The laser is programmed to remove tissue and reduce or eliminate myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. This process is essentially like transferring your contact lens prescription permanently onto the cornea.
Wolfe Eye Clinic has the advantage of using three different excimer laser systems, including the Bausch & Lomb Technolas 217 Laser with Active Eye Tracking, the Alcon LADARVision Excimer Laser with Eye Tracking and the VISX Excimer Laser. This allows our surgeons to recommend the technology option best suited to the patient’s individual correction needs and provides each patient with the best possible vision.
Wavefront Technology
Custom wavefront treatment works by creating an individualized map of each patient’s visual system, similar in detail and uniqueness to your fingerprint. This map of the visual system is then processed by the laser system and a custom treatment profile is created to treat the nearsightedness and astigmatism along with higher-order corneal aberrations.
Aberrations describe the defects in the eye that prevent light from focusing to a precise point on the retina. Lower-order aberrations include nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Higher-order aberrations are usually present in addition to lower-order aberrations and are often responsible for symptoms such as glare or halos in low light conditions. Higher-order aberrations cannot be corrected with glasses, contacts or traditional laser vision correction.
One advantage of wavefront technology is the ability to measure and correct pre-existing higher-order aberrations in the visual system. Custom wavefront treatment offers the possibility of providing improved quality of vision as well as nighttime driving vision. The combination of custom wavefront and IntraLase technology makes your LASIK experience exceptionally precise and safe.
