Washington, DC — “Custom” (also known as wavefront-guided) laser vision correction produces superior visual outcomes compared to traditional laser vision correction surgeries, according to data presented by the U.S. Navy Refractive Surgery program today at the 31st Annual Symposium of American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

“With wavefront-guided procedures we’re getting better quality of vision, better clarity, better night vision, and better contrast sensitivity than we did with conventional laser eye surgeries,” said Captain Steve Schallhorn, MD, director of refractive surgery at the Naval Medical Center, San Diego reporting on his findings at the symposium.

Bringing our men home
“It’s helping bring our men home because of the advantages it gives us to operate quickly and more effectively in a combat environment,” said Marine Col. Mike Schupp, leader of Regimental Combat Team 1, which spearheaded the recent attack on the Iraqi insurgent stronghold of Fallugah. “It makes us better marksman and better day and night fighters,” said Schupp in San Diego commenting on the Navy’s Refractive Surgery Program.

The U. S. Navy, Army, and Air Force refractive surgery programs are involved in joint evaluations of wavefront-guided laser vision correction. Custom, or wavefront-guided, vision correction is commonly available to consumers who have LASIK.

Wavefront-guided LASIK was recently approved by the Air Force for pilots of certain types of aircraft (transports, tankers, etc.) because its superior quality in terms of ability to see contrasts and clearer night vision compared to conventional LASIK, said Col. Robert Smith, of the Air Force Warfighter Refractive Surgery program, who also presented data at the ASCRS meeting.

Higher Expectations
“While conventional laser correction procedures are good, wavefront-guided vision correction is ratcheting up our expectations. Five years ago, it was good if the patient had an uncorrected vision of 20/40 (the level of vision needed to drive without glasses in most states) and within 1 diopter of the target correction. Many of the aviators we treat today have 20/15 or 20/12 vision with glasses before treatment. Patients now have higher expectations with the new technology. In our study, we’re obtaining those levels of 20/15 and 20/12 vision without glasses after treatment and within ½ diopter of the target correction,” Captain Schallhorn said.

Wavefront technology makes it possible to measure imperfections in the eye never measured before using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses. Wavefront-guided digital technology identifies and measures imperfections in an individual’s eye 25 times more precisely than the standard method. Physicians use this information to treat individuals during the custom LASIK procedure.

For more information about custom LASIK, also known as wavefront-guided LASIK, visit www.eyesurgeryeducation.org.