1. How long has wavefront LASIK been available?
2. Since wavefront LASIK is a relatively new procedure, should I wait until it is more refined?
3. Since wavefront LASIK is the latest and greatest, shouldn't everyone having LASIK elect the custom procedure?
4. Following wavefront LASIK, will I see better than I do with contact lenses or glasses?
5. Is wavefront LASIK "safer" than conventional LASIK?
6. For the patient, how does the wavefront LASIK experience differ from the conventional one?
7. Are the results of wavefront LASIK permanent?
8. Now that my prescription can be measured without relying on my answers, does the surgeon really have to depend on me for anything?
9. If I have large pupils is it required that I have wavefront LASIK?
10. I have already had LASIK and experience night vision and/or contrast sensitivity disturbances. Can wavefront LASIK help me?

1. How long has wavefront LASIK been available?
   The first wavefront mapping of the complete aberration profile of a human eye was performed in 1994. The first wavefront LASIK procedure was performed in 1999. The FDA approved the first commercial use of wavefront LASIK to correct nearsightedness in October 2002, and approved the VISX S4 Wavefront LASIK platform for farsighted treatment in 2004.

2. Since wavefront LASIK is a relatively new procedure, should I wait until it is more refined?
   Just as with any technology, LASIK will continue to evolve and improve. In reality you could continue to wait the rest of your life without ever having the procedure, because it will get better and better. However, given that millions of people have already had conventional LASIK and are very satisfied, and that wavefront LASIK is simply an improvement upon conventional LASIK, there seems to be no reason to wait for further refinement.

3. Since wavefront LASIK is the latest and greatest, shouldn't everyone having LASIK elect the custom procedure?
   While wavefront LASIK may be very appropriate for some, it may be overkill for others. The differentiation comes in the degree of one's pre-operative higher-order aberrations. The truth is that conventional LASIK will continue to work well for a large subset of LASIK patients, without the added cost.

4. Following wavefront LASIK, will I see better than I do with contact lenses or glasses?
   In a certain percentage of wavefront LASIK cases, patients will see better than they did with their glasses or contact lenses. However, this is also true for conventional LASIK, albeit not as frequently. One needs to understand that although this vision improvement is possible, it is by no means guaranteed.

5. Is wavefront LASIK "safer" than conventional LASIK?
   When you read about claims that wavefront LASIK is "safer" than conventional LASIK, they are referring to the reduced likelihood of creating night vision or contrast sensitivity problems. While overall this may be true, it not the case for the majority of patients. With appropriately selected cases, conventional LASIK provides fine night vision and contrast sensitivity. For higher risk patients, wavefront LASIK is the preferred approach.

6. For the patient, how does the wavefront LASIK experience differ from the conventional one?
   The actual surgical experience for the patient is exactly the same as conventional LASIK. The difference comes in the pre-operative measurement of the patient's lower- and higher-order aberrations. Instead of the subjective and confusing process of "which is better 1 or 2", the entire aberration profile of the eye is performed objectively, without relying on your answers, using sophisticated wavefront sensors or aberrometers.

7. Are the results of wavefront LASIK permanent?
   While we understand a great deal about the eye's lower-order aberrations and their stability, we understand far less about it's higher-order aberrations. So while the laser effects of wavefront LASIK are permanent, no one can yet predict how one's higher-order aberrations will naturally change over the years.

8. Now that my prescription can be measured without relying on my answers, does the surgeon really have to depend on me for anything?
   While it is true that wavefront refractions can objectively ascertain one's prescription (both lower- and higher-order aberrations), it is currently unable to do so in a small subset of patients. For these individuals we still have to rely on the subjective testing of "which is better 1 or 2". In addition, even though the laser treatments are auto-centered and pupil-tracked, it is still necessary and helpful for the patient to maintain good fixation on the red, blinking light during treatment.

9. If I have large pupils is it required that I have wavefront LASIK?
   While there is a tendency for those with larger pupils to have a larger degree of higher-order aberrations, this is not always the case. Pre-operative wavefront measurements will determine this degree and whether wavefront LASIK would be recommended over conventional LASIK.

10. I have already had LASIK and experience night vision and/or contrast sensitivity disturbances. Can wavefront LASIK help me?
    Wavefront refractions of post-operative LASIK patients with such quality of vision complaints often demonstrate large degrees of higher-order aberrations. Preliminary studies suggest that wavefront LASIK retreatments can reduce these aberrations, as well as subjectively improve these night vision and contrast sensitivity problems.

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