Almost every day we are asked about wavefront LASIK people have read about or seen on TV.

Our surgeons highly value wavefront technology and use the information it provides to optimize and improve every laser vision case they perform. Since 2002 wavefront has helped us significantly improve our laser performance and treatment outcomes. However, we do not use wavefront measurements to customize each surgery we perform.

Because wavefront customized LASIK usually costs more, consumers naturally think it is more precise and provides better vision. But, from our results and what European surgeons have discovered, we believe wavefront optimized LASIK provides outcomes as good or better for most patients.

Although wavefront customized LASIK is needed in some cases, very few people require it.

The difference between wavefront customized and wavefront optimized LASIK is fairly simple:

• Wavefront customized LASIK—attempts to correct for every aberrations detected throughout the eye's optical system. However, because laser imprecision and variable healing responses often negate subtle corrections, most vision problems are not bad enough to need this treatment.
• Wavefront optimized LASIK—utilizes treatment algorithms that have been finely tuned based on knowledge gained from a large number of wavefront measurements. While traditional LASIK and wavefront customized LASIK can actually create small aberrations on the cornea, wavefront optimized surgery is designed to minimize this problem.