No two eyes are alike, and like your DNA or fingerprint, your vision is unique. For hundreds of years, glasses have been used to correct vision by eliminating one or more of the three basic elements of blurring; nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. However, advances in optics have demonstrated that these three basic elements are only part of the picture. There are tiny imperfections or distortions in every eye, even when the perfect glasses or contact prescription is used. To understand this further, imagine two people who visit the eye doctor and obtain exactly the same glasses prescription. Using standard laser correction, those two individuals would be treated with exactly the same laser treatment plan, despite the fact that their eyes each have a unique set of naturally occurring tiny imperfections and distortions. And while we have achieved excellent results by treating only these three basic elements (nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism), we can now offer even more.

Dell Laser Consultants offers the technological advantage of Custom wavefront-guided laser vision correction. Custom laser correction involves a diagnostic device that maps the entire optical path of your eye, including the tiny distortions and imperfections naturally present in all eyes. This is effectively a unique “fingerprint of your vision,” and provides us with extremely precise and detailed information about your vision. The technology involved is highly complex, and it is based upon mathematical techniques used to improve the performance and image quality of deep space telescopes. This customized unique map of your eye is then loaded into the computer of the excimer laser, which generates a wavefront customized treatment appropriate for the individual “fingerprint” of your eye.

Results of an FDA clinical trial of this technology demonstrated that an incredible 94% of patients treated were able to see 20/20 or better without glasses. Four times as many people in the trial were very satisfied with their night vision after LASIK, compared to their night vision before with glasses or contacts. These results are superior to those obtained with standard laser correction, and the dramatic improvement in night vision may be the greatest single advantage of Custom laser correction. Custom correction can be applied to both LASIK and Advanced Surface Ablation treatment.

You are probably already familiar with one application of wavefront-guided optical technology. In December 1993, Space Shuttle Mission STS-61 installed the COSTAR (Corrective Optics Space Telescope Axial Replacement) upgrade to the Hubble Space telescope to correct a spherical aberration in the lens system of the telescope. Spherical aberration is one of the main phenomena corrected by Custom wavefront guided laser correction.

The premier astronomy telescope on earth, (Keck Observatory), uses a wavefront guided system to control its adaptive optics. This is the world’s largest optical and infrared telescope. Adaptive optics allow this telescope to resolve images that no other telescope in the world can. This telescope now produces images with greater crispness and detail than those resulting from the Hubble Space Telescope.

The United States Navy used our laser to prove that wavefront-guided LASIK to correct myopia combined with Intralase (bladeless flap creation), significantly improved night driving visual performance and was significantly better than non-custom (non-wavefront guided) LASIK. Ophthalmology 2009;116:702-709

This study was revolutionary for showing that our LASER technology greatly increased night vision versus other technologies. It was also instrumental in the approval of our laser technology for all fighter pilots in the military and NASA astronauts.

Iris registration is what allows our LASER to correct your prescription with unparalleled accuracy. Almost everyone has some amount of astigmatism, and if your treatment is misaligned even slightly, it could result in poor vision. This video illustrates how even minor misalignment can be detrimental to your vision . Only our laser uses iris registration to ensure you the best possible vision.

VISX Iris Registration Technology

VISX® CustomVue® Iris Registration technology can dramatically enhance the efficacy of the entire VISX® suite of laser eye surgery equipment, including the WaveScan®, Wavefront®, and STAR S4® excimer laser. Used to upgrade the accuracy of the previous method, which required the doctor to manually mark the sclera—the white part of the eye—Iris Registration is a touch-free method of acquiring precise calibration of the iris during laser vision correction. Previously, if the treatment had to be stopped for any reason or if the eye moved during the surgery, the doctor would have to re-apply the markings. With Iris Registration, this issue is eliminated. As a result, our ophthalmologist, Dr. Steven Dell, can align the laser energy to deliver treatment to the cornea with the greatest precision possible.

For more information about VISX® Iris Registration, or if you would like to schedule a consultation with one of our board-certified ophthalmologists, please contact us today.

Benefits of VISX Iris Registration

One of the chief benefits of VISX® Iris Registration is the ability to provide enhanced precision during laser eye surgery, whether you’re undergoing IntraLase, LASIK, or ASA, which can improve results and your experience while making the process faster and simpler for the physician. You don’t have to worry about your eye movement during the operation, as the technology will maintain alignment throughout. The procedure time may be reduced as well. As a result of this state-of-the-art equipment, we can provide the highest level of customization and the greatest accuracy possible when performing laser vision correction.

How does VISX Iris Registration work

When you arrive for your treatment, you will go through a multi-step process to map out your unique vision characteristics and develop a fully customized treatment plan that can best address your concerns. Your eyes will first be measured by the WaveScan® device, after which we will ensure accurate analysis with a second evaluation with you lying on the bed where the laser treatment will proceed. At this point, the Iris Registration technology will perform a series of functions to track and map the iris, including:

  • Locating and unwrapping the iris
  • Selecting suitable reference points
  • Utilizing advanced mathematical formulas to locate numerous matching reference points
  • Calculating the contours and angles of the corneal surface area
  • Analyzing the solution quality to ensure the most accurate measurement possible

We understand you may have additional questions about this process, and if you would like to speak with our experienced eye surgeons or schedule a consultation for a screening, please contact us today.