Benefits and Risks of Wavefront Lasik Surgery?

Benefits of Wavefront Lasik Surgery

Only a Wavefront diagnostic examination is able to detect and map the higher-order corneal aberrations that impact contrast sensitivity and fine visual acuity. As a result, patients undergoing Wavefront LASIK surgery have reported improvements to their vision that include better night vision as well as reduced sensitivity to glare, shadows and halos. Many ophthalmologists and LASIK patients believe Wavefront LASIK gives patients the best chance of obtaining perfect 20/20 uncorrected vision after a successful procedure, although peer-reviewed clinical data does not exist at present to support such claims.

Beyond the ability to address high-order corneal aberrations, Wavefront LASIK can also correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism, helping to free patients from reliance on glasses and contact lenses for driving, reading and engaging in recreational activities from which they may have previously shied away. Many Wavefront LASIK patients report an increase in self-esteem and improved quality of life after successful surgery.

Possible Complications

As with any surgery, even one as quick and painless as Wavefront LASIK, there are certain risks a patient should discuss thoroughly with their doctor prior to committing to the procedure.

The following list describes vision issues that can arise with LASIK, and individual patients may be at risk for other complications depending on their unique situation.

• Undercorrection and Overcorrection
• Induced Astigmatism
• Dry Eyes Haze
• Corneal Abrasion
• Night Glare and Halos
• Loss of Best Corrected Vision
• Central Islands
• Corneal Flap Risks
• Epithelial Ingrowth
• Regression
• Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)
• Infection or Severe Inflammation