Hi,

I have Myopia with -5.5 and -5.75 with Astigmatism. The Eye Clinic I have decided to go to uses the following equipment:

1. Schwind Esiris - professional scanning spot laser
2. Wave front ORK aberrometry
3. Hi-tech Scout Corneal Topography
4. ORK Link
5. Microkeratome - Baush & Lomb hansatome

Is this the best commbination of equipment at the momment?

Schwind eye-tech-solutions GmbH & Co. (Germany) claims the following:

The ESIRIS Excimer Laser represents the latest and most innovative technology presently on the market which offers revolutionary customized treatment possibilities in refractive surgery such as the correction of aberrations up to a theoretical visual acuity of 20/6.

Treatment Parameters

Zone diameter
Up to 10.0 mm

Treatment ranges
SURFACE PRK and LASIK

Myopia
max. sph. 0 to -10.0 Diopters

Myopic astigmatism
max. sph. 0 to -10.0 Diopters max. cyl. 0 to -4.0 Diopters

Hyperopia
max. sph. 0 to +4.0 Diopters

Hyperopic astigmatism
max. sph. 0 to +4.0 Diopters max. cyl. 0 to -2.5 Diopters

LASIK vs. PRK
correction Programmable LASIK correction table

Laser Type Excimer Laser
Wavelength 193nm
Spot Diameter 0.8 mm Gaussian Profile
Repetition Rate 200 Hz
Beam Delivery Scanning Spot System
Eye Tracker Active High Speed Eye Tracking
Frequency 300 Hz
Dimensions approx. 1.500 x 1.200 x 1.950 mm

More information can be found at their website http://www.eye-tech-solutions.com/

Can anyone tell me if this would be good for me? They claim to achieve visual acuity of 20/6... is this possible?

Dear Mr Mohammad,
The Esiris laser is indeed a great machine, esp. if they are using the New Carriazo Pendular Micro Keratome - Its the latest and considered the Finest in the industry. BTW, how much is it going to cost you? Also, have the doctors taken the effort to dilate both your eyes and given you a thorough retinal examination to detect retinal breaks etc? We are going to buy one in India - the first in North India for the very same reasons - because it is the best. (BTW so is the Mel 80 from Zeiss) but it is the keratome which will make the surgery safer - as most complications arise out of that.
In a month's time check out on www.healthcareuae.com - it offers special healthcare related packages for UAE people.
Best Wishes and hope you have a great surgery.
Dr. Upsham Goel,

www.tceye.com

Reguarding the Mel 80, I have its website bookmarked.

http://www.eyetechlasik.com/bausch_lomb_laser_for_lasik_and_prk_laser_eye_surgery.htm

The statics

http://www.eyetechlasik.com/success_rates_for_lasik_and_prk_laser_eye_surgery.htm

Over 92% achieve 20/20 and over 75% 20/15 which is just amazing. I do have a question about this, how does one define when you "qualify" as seeing 20/20 or any? Surely you must see more than one letter and in my opinion, more than 2/3 of the letters correctly. That means getting more than 6 of 9 letters right for example. I have heard of surgeons count your statics if you see or guess more than 1 letter in that line. If those results are based on a fair over 2/3 majority then they really are truly impressive! The 1.5% 20/40 were possible undercorrections which the patient and/or surgeon agreed not to bother with enhancement for reasons, perhaps he is approaching 40 and wants to put off reading glasses longer or perhaps his flap has sealed and cant be lifted or perhaps he had a slight complication and doesnt want to risk any more.

as for 20/6 being theoratical best vision, id have to agree, I know someone who says he can see the 20/10 line easy from 25 to 28 feet which would make him 20/8 or 20/7 and still kinda make out some letters at 33 feet for 20/6 if he can make out more than 2/3 of the letters. He says he knows a couple others with vision 20/8 or better and believes the limit to be 20/5 or even 20/4 I also talked to another with 20/15 who has heard of the limit being 20/5! Theres still debate on this but almost everyone has accepted that it is indeed possible to achieve better than 20/10!

However this is not common at all, less than 25% of people have 20/20 uncorrected vision and 20/10 is so rare one of my friend said his local optometrist's jaw just dropped when he read the 20/10 line! He was like man, you have steller vision! A different guy would get his annual vision check and after reading the 20/20 line the optometrist didnt even bother to test further and says your vision is perfect, you may be dismissed. This was a waste of his time, my friend said and he moved him on "next!"

I have said my rant and whew my fingers are tired! This is remarkable how technology has progressed where its not uncommon to gain line(s) of best corrected vision! There still are risks and complications but those too are being reduced with todays latest lasers. Still one has to be relistic, not everyone is gonna end with 20/10 or even 20/20 vision, a very slight undercorrection or residual astigmistim is all it takes. Also one should also focus on how good his night vision is and how consisant his vision is in addition to best vision accuracy.