laser vision correction
Planoscan LASIK
This refers to the simplest treatment profile which in many cases can still produce excellent vision correction. In this treatment the LASER reshaping is aiming to correct only simpler optical aberrations. For example if your optical prescription is written as -3.5/+1.25*90 then the laser will attempt to correct only the -3.5D of myopia and the +1.25D of astigmatism.
This type of LASIK has been used for many years and produces very predictable results. The nature of the corneal reshaping however can lead to the induction of other more complex optical aberrations after this type of LASIK. For this reason patients with higher optical errors, larger pupils or with known preexisting higher optical aberrations may be better suited to one of the two alternative treatment profiles.
Wavefront Optimised LASIK
Also referred to as as prolate profile, this is a more sophisticated treatment profile than plansoscan and incorporates some elements of wavefront guided treatment. The essential advantage is that the corneal reshaping is done in a finer, more selective way resulting in excellent optical correction but without inducing the main type of higher optical aberration termed spherical aberration. By not inducing this particular aberration patients may acheive better dim light visual performance (for example driving in low light conditions).
This treatment profile is best suited to patients who have;
- Higher optical errors
- Larger pupil size in dim light in the presence of minimal pre-existing higher order aberrations.
- It may be especially relevant for patients who have higher degrees of pre existing spherical aberration without substantial amounts of other higher order optical aberrations.
Results
