Why Custom Eye Surgery May Be Right for You

There are numerous surgical options available for those seeking to correct refractive errors and improve their vision. Determining which one is right for you requires the assessment of an experienced eye surgeon. Based on your eye health, the type of refractive error, and the severity of corneal aberrations, you may receive a recommendation for a procedure like Custom LASIK.

Custom LASIK differs from traditional LASIK in that it offers fully personalized treatment for vision correction. LASIK has a variety of benefits, which we will explore in this article.

What is Custom LASIK eye surgery?

LASIK eye surgery corrects refractive vision errors by reshaping the cornea. To do this precisely and effectively, eye surgeons need a detailed map of the cornea. The surgery includes corneal aberrations, which are imperfections in your cornea’s shape. 

When conventional LASIK was invented in the 1990s, there was no way to measure the corneal shape or its imperfections accurately. The technology simply did not exist. Instead, eye doctors relied on the same procedures used for prescription eyeglasses to inform the eye surgery. This method often leads to imprecise results.

Custom LASIK, conversely, uses advanced technology to create precise, personalized vision corrective treatments. Specifically, it utilizes a computer called a wavefront device. This device maps your eye’s corneal surface and how light passes through it. It measures your unique corneal shape, examines corneal aberrations, and calculates the necessary adjustments to enhance your vision.

Wavefront-guided technology allows eye surgeons to correct all optical imperfections (higher-order aberrations) in the entire optical system, including the cornea and the lens.

Unlike conventional LASIK, custom eye surgery takes into account your eye anatomy, including even the most subtle irregularities in your cornea. As a result, it offers superior precision and fewer side effects. For example, you’re less likely to experience light distortions and low-light difficulties. You’re also more likely to have 20/20 vision (or better) after custom eye surgery.

Custom Bladeless LASIK vs. Traditional LASIK

Both Custom Bladeless LASIK and traditional LASIK work by reshaping the cornea. An eye surgeon creates a small flap in the cornea, then lifts it to expose the underlying tissue and reshapes the cornea according to your treatment plan.

However, traditional LASIK uses a mechanical blade (called a microkeratome) to create a corneal flap, whereas Custom Bladeless LASIK uses a femtosecond laser. Once the corneal flap is lifted, the laser reshapes the corneal tissue based on the wavefront analysis. Thus, your vision is corrected in a precise and personalized way.

There are many advantages of using a femtosecond laser instead of a blade. Bladeless LASIK is more accurate and customizable, and results in better visual outcomes and reduced side effects.

4 Advantages of Custom Bladeless LASIK

1. Personalized Treatment

Everyone’s corneal contour is unique. Your treatment plan should be too.

However, to create a personalized treatment plan, your surgeon needs to have detailed and accurate information from a wavefront device. They also require precise tools to make subtle adjustments to your eyes.

At the Clearview Vision Institute, we use the latest femtosecond laser and wavefront technology in Custom Bladeless LASIK procedures. As a result, we’re able to map and measure all of the specific details of your cornea. It means we can devise the best, tailored vision correction plan for you.

Wavefront technology provides a detailed map of your cornea. Then, based on your cornea’s shapes and irregularities, the advanced laser technology removes precisely the right amount of corneal tissue. 

Without taking your specific corneal aberrations into account, it’s impossible to deliver highly accurate results. It is why traditional LASIK often falls short of the desired outcome.

2. Better Visual Outcomes

More precise treatment leads to better visual outcomes. Custom LASIK enhances the clarity of both near and far vision, as well as other qualities, such as contrast sensitivity and fine vision. Consequently, those who undergo custom eye surgery have superior vision in low-light and nighttime environments. LASIK can be a game-changer for patients. 

With Custom LASIK, you have a much better chance of having 20/20 vision or better. It is not the case with conventional LASIK.

Your personalized treatment plan ensures that you receive the proper treatment for your unique corneal landscape and refractive errors. Whether you experience myopia or hyperopia, Custom LASIK provides permanent and effective vision correction.

3. Reduced Side Effects

There are fewer potential side effects and higher-order aberrations associated with Custom LASIK than conventional eye surgery. It is due to its superior accuracy, precision, and personalization.

Higher-order aberrations (HOAs) are complex visual distortions that affect your vision. They can cause symptoms such as glare, starbursts, halos, and poor low-light vision. Custom LASIK targets these aberrations specifically. Traditional LASIK cannot since it lacks a detailed map of the cornea and its imperfections.

Advanced wavefront technology, used in Custom LASIK, significantly reduces HOAs, so your vision is clearer and crisper.

Furthermore, Custom Bladeless LASIK has a significantly lower risk of intraoperative complications than traditional LASIK. For instance, patients have a reduced risk of flap-related complications because the femtosecond laser creates a thinner corneal flap. 

4. Greater Comfort and Faster Healing

Custom Bladeless LASIK is a more comfortable and gentle procedure than conventional LASIK. Why? The use of the femtosecond laser results in a thin, precise, uniform flap that follows the contour of your cornea. It also better adheres to the cornea when put back in place. It leads to faster healing and better results.

Conversely, conventional LASIK creates a thicker, less precise flap. While the procedure is still not painful, it’s not as comfortable. Healing can also take longer.

Custom Eye Surgery at Clearview Vision Institute

Clearview Vision Institute offers advanced custom eye surgery options to patients seeking vision correction. We specialize in Custom Bladeless LASIK, the most advanced form of LASIK available today. It enables us to deliver more visually appealing outcomes, more accurate results, and greater comfort to our patients. Contact us today to learn if Custom LASIK is right for you.

To request more information on custom eye surgery, call Clearview Vision Institute today at 647-493-6371 or contact us here.