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Wavefront
There is much media and marketing hype about new procedures which can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses. The wide variety of procedures which are performed to correct focusing errors in vision, such as LASIK (laser assisted in situ keratomileusis) and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) are known as refractive surgery. All of these procedures are directed at changing the focusing power of the eye to allow light rays to focus sharply onto the retina to create a clear image. Most refractive surgical procedures work by changing the shape of the front surface of the eye, the cornea. Other refractive procedures involve the addition of artificial lens implants to alter the focusing power of the eye. The human eye works much like a camera. Light entering the eye is focused by the cornea and the lens into an image which forms on the surface of the retina, a light-sensitive structure which acts like camera film. The visual information contained in the retinal image is sent to the brain by the optic nerve, which functions like a cable carrying electrical signals. As you read this article, light from the paper enters your eye and focuses onto your retina. In order to see a clear and sharp image, each light ray must precisely focus onto the retina. A recent development called wavefront analysis is the latest breakthrough in laser vision correction. Wavefront technology uses a computer-generated map, called a wavescan, to precisely plot out the eye's focusing properties. Any imperfections in the size, shape, or curvature of the eye's components will create a distortion in the image which forms on the retina. The new wavescan technology is capable of accurately measuring these aberrations. The map of these irregularities is then transmitted to a computer which controls a specialized laser called the excimer laser. The excimer laser uses low energy light to reshape the cornea without damaging surrounding tissues. In the LASIK procedure, a thin flap is created in the cornea, the flap is lifted and folded over, and the excimer laser treatment is carried out just beneath the flap. At the conclusion of the procedure, the flap is replaced, thereby leaving the front surface of the cornea smooth and intact. As with all laser and surgical procedures, there are potential risks. Nonetheless, the vast majority of refractive surgery patients achieve excellent vision and are very pleased with their results. Please call at your convenience if you would like to find out if you are a candidate for these new procedures.
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