I'm researching LASIK and want to have the procedure within the next year. Is there any recent information on custom Lasik or use of wavefront technology? What is the status of testing/FDA approval? When should this be generally available to patients in the U.S.? For a potential patient with no astigmatism and relatively mild myopia (- 1.75), how much of a difference will wavefront technology make? I know the current goal of LASIK isn't "supervision", but if it will be attainable soon, I'd love to be able to have a result of 20/10....

Thanks for any info!

Wavefront LASIK is very exciting, but most people expect atleast 2-3 years before it will become FDA approved.
Many experts also think that wavefront will be used as a touch up procedure rather than an initial procedure for most people. this is because for people with high levels of myopia and/or astigmatism, the laser has to treat alot of the cornea. There is then a healing process- and this healing process may prevent patients from reaching 20/20 vision. However, for touch ups, only a tiny amount of tissue is removed with the laser - so minimal healing would occur - hopefully allowing the customized procedure to bring vision to 20/10 or so. Again - these are theories - and they have yet to be performed as such on humans.
Wavefront guided treatments have been performed on humans - but they are still in their preliminary stages - and the results did not bring the patients to 20/10 or better vision.

I hope this is helpful

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dr. Trattler,

I've got -8 astigmatism. I'm guessing that FDA approved LASIK has less than a 50% chance of getting my eyes better than 20/40. Should I seek out wavefront guided treatments in Europe or Canada?

Ken Woodard
(612)245-4939

Just because something is available elsewhere does not mean that it better or safer. At the present times, most wavefront-LASIK procedures are being done on people with relatively normal prescriptions to try to figure out the optimal treatments. It will probably be another year or two before wavefront-guided procedures become more common-place around the world.
In the meantime - there are a number of options for people with high levels of astigmatism. The first issue is to find out why you have so much astigmatism - did you have previous eye surgery? Do you have keratoconus (patients with keratoconus are not eligible for LASIK).
Then - your entire eye has to be examined to see if you are a good candidate for refractive surgery.
For patients with high levels of astigmatism - an arcuate incision can be very effective at reducing the level of astigmatism. Once the astigmatism is reduced - a person could then have LASIK.
There are of course risks with arcuate incisions and LASIK - so you need to carefully discuss all of the risks versus benefits for this type of procedure to help you decide whether it is worthwhile to have a procedure, or if it is better to wait.

I know of two excellent LASIK surgeons in Minnesota - they are both very experienced.

Ralph Chu, MD:
Chu Laser Eye Institute, PA
7760 France Ave South, Suite 140
Edina, MN 55435
Tel:
Fax:
http://www.chulasereye.com/

Neal A. Sher, M.D., F.A.C.S.
Eye Care Associates
825 Nicollet Mall, Suite 750
Minneapolis, MN 55402
Tel:
Fax:
http://www.drsher.com/

Thanks! I made an appointment with Dr. Sher for next week.