The Basics of Lasik

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and simply put is a procedure using an excimer laser that permanently changes the shape of the eye. A small flap is cut into the cornea and folded over to allow access to the part of the eye called the stroma, where the laser is used to reshape the cornea and the flap is closed.
The WaveScan Wavefront System used by many specialists in LASIK eye surgery works by creating a map that shows how your optical system, as a whole, processes light. This results in something similar to a fingerprint of each eyes unique vision profile, which allows patients to be treated for their own special imperfections during the LASIK eye surgery. WaveScan technology was originally developed for use in high-powered telescopes to reduce distortions when viewing distant objects in space. This technology has now been applied to laser vision correction, measuring imperfections in the eye never before measured using only standard methods for vision correction.
The VISX Star S4 laser, according to many of its proponents, brings a new standard of accuracy to laser vision correction with a combination of two different systems known as Variable Spot Scanning and 3D ActiveTrak. With a laser calibrated to .25 microns, this hybrid system offers amazing precision, and can treat many borderline conditions that were once beyond the scope of other technologies. Just for comparison, human hairs are 60-80 microns in diameter. The VISX Star S4 is capable of performing both a standard (non-wavefront) treatment and a CustomVue (Wavefront guided) treatment. The CustomVue treatment provided by the VISX Star S4 Laser utilizes information regarding the distortion of light as it passes through each person’s eye and attempts to reduce those that may be causing symptoms such as glare and halos.
CustomVue systems match a specially created profile (again, a kind of fingerprint of your vision to an ideal optical system. Once again using the VISX Star S4 laser, this profile data ensures precise, uniquely personalized LASIK eye surgery. If you are one of the particular LASIK patients who qualify for this kind of procedure, CustomVue allows the surgeon to eliminate microscopic flaws in your vision that cannot be corrected with either glasses or contact lenses.
The IntraLase laser is a technology used to replace the metal mechanical blade microkeratome traditionally used to cut the necessary corneal flap during a laser vision correction procedure. Rather than creating a flap with a blade, the IntraLase laser uses laser energy to make a quick, painless incision that is more precise.
For top name manufacturers you can trust, like Acon, Nidek, and Lumenis for precision Lasik surgical equipment contact us at laserlocators.com and let one of our equipment experts help.