Conventional laser procedures program the laser using a standardized algorithm which is based upon the patient's prescription and the diameter of the desired treatment zone. This means that all patients with the same prescription would get pretty much the same treatment. In wavefront-guided procedures, first the patient's eyes are scanned with a wavefront aberrometer, and the resulting aberrometry data is used to program the laser.
Wavefront-guided procedures are increasingly becoming the norm. While it may sound like a "no-brainer" that wavefront-guided procedures are "better" than conventional procedures, and indeed there is much medical literature in support it, there is by no means universal agreement about its superiority. Aberrometers vary in capability and quality. Even assuming the best aberrometer, there are issues with being able to deliver the programmed ablation to precisely the correct location on the cornea. However, overall the trend certainly seems to be moving towards adopting wavefront-guided procedures.
Wavefront-guided procedures are also used therapeutically sometimes, especially in an attempt to correct spherical aberration in patients with night vision disturbance. |
