IS THE ALGRETTO WAVE LASER , US FDA APPROVED. IS IT RECOMMENDED TO PERFORM ON OPTICAL ZONE OF 6 MM, FOR -13 AND -11 DIOPTERS. CORNEAL THICKNESS IS 465MM WITH MILD ASTIGMATISM.PLEASE REPLY SOON AS MY EYE EXAM IS TOMORROW

1. A corneal thickness of 465 is too thin for LASIK - You would be at high risk for corneal haze

2. the allegreto laser is not FDA approved in the US to my knowledge

3. I do not know alot about the Allegreto laser, but the currently available lasers in the US seem to perform best for corrections of -10 to -11 or less. -13 is very, very high, and the results tend not to be as good (atleast with other lasers in the US).

In general - we recommend that patients with 13 diopters of myopia wait for better technologies, which may include phakic IOLs.

I hope this helps

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

P.S. What is your pupil size?

The Allegretto Wavelight 200 Hz laser is approved by the USA FDA and is available on their website http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/LASIK/lasers.htm,
Their later laser the Wavelight Allegretto Eye Q 400 Hz is not yet available in the USA. We have been using the 400 Hz for over a year now with excellent results.
Dr Shroff
www.perfectwavelasik.com

Since you used the word "allegreto "laser", I am not sure if we are referring to the same thing but Avery Alexander uses the allgretto equipment for "Lasik" He is from Alexander Institute in Appleton, WI.

http://www.allaboutvision.com/lasik-surgeons/appleton-alexander.htm

"For UltraSight LASIK surgery, Dr. Alexander uses the Allegretto Wave excimer laser from Wavelight. The Allegretto Wave represents a breakthrough in customized LASIK technology. This laser is the first to be "wavefront optimized" so that the optical characteristics of the eye can be measured and corrected to the most minute levels. The laser beam profile and eye tracking system are specifically designed for maintaining the corneal curvature for each individual patient, thereby correcting visual error and preventing the likelihood of night vision glare and halos."
K.M.

>1. A corneal thickness of 465
>is too thin for LASIK -
>You would be at high risk
>for corneal haze

>2. the allegreto laser is not
>FDA approved in the US to
>my knowledge

>3. I do not know alot
>about the Allegreto laser, but the
>currently available lasers in the US
>seem to perform best for corrections
>of -10 to -11 or less.
> -13 is very, very high,
>and the results tend not to
>be as good (atleast with other
>lasers in the US).

>In general - we recommend that patients
>with 13 diopters of myopia wait
>for better technologies, which may include
>phakic IOLs.

>I hope this helps

>Bill Trattler, MDMiami, FL

>P.S. What is your pupil size?
>

YEs he is using the Allegretto laser - per your posting.

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

I was told by two differnet doctors about those two laser machines.

One insisted that VISX Star 4 is the best and it has 80% of market share. Everytime the doctor uses it, around $200 - $300 roalty has to paied to the manufacture company.

The other doctor indicated WAVELIGHT Allegretto is the best. It will cut a little bit less corneal than VISX does.

I would like to check which one is better to help me to choose which doctor to go to. I am nearsighted with -4.25 and -4.75. I also have little bit stigamatism.

Thanks in advance!