The Next Generation in Laser Eye Surgery

No two eyes are the same. Like your DNA or fingerprint, your vision is unique.

Until now, laser vision correction treatment was based on diagnostic technology similar to that used for the prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses. The new CustomVue™ System at LaserVue Medical Associates takes laser vision correction to an entirely new, personalized level by combining exclusive personalized diagnostic technology and the Excimer laser into one system.

The advanced diagnostic portion of the new wavefront technology produces a precise, detailed analysis of your vision and provides a personalized laser vision correction plan that addresses your individual needs. This WavePrint Map is coordinated with the VISX STAR S4 ActiveTrak™ Excimer Laser System to create one of the most advanced systems available. The 3-D eye tracker with auto-centration adds a new level of precision, comfort, and safety.

Potential Benefits of Custom LASIK
Wavefront technology is groundbreaking because it has the potential to improve not only how much you can see, visual acuity measured by the standard 20/20 eye chart, but also how well you can see, in terms of contrast sensitivity and fine detail. This translates into a reduced risk of glare, halos and difficulty with night vision post-LASIK.

How much you see depends on what lower-order aberrations you have; lower-order aberrations are also called refractive errors and include myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Traditional LASIK treats these lower-order aberrations. How well you see can depends on what higher-order aberrations you have; higher-order aberrations are irregularities other than refractive errors, and can cause such problems as decreased contrast sensitivity or night vision, glare, shadows and halos. Higher-order aberrations do not always affect vision. Custom LASIK treats both lower- and higher-order aberrations.

Custom LASIK's advantage lies in the area of quality of vision:

• Greater chance of achieving 20/20 vision
• Greater chance of achieving better than 20/20 vision
• Reduced chance of losing best-corrected vision
• Reduced chance of losing visual quality or contrast sensitivity
• Reduced chance of night-vision disturbances and glare

Potential also exists for custom LASIK to treat those people who have lost best-corrected vision from previous refractive surgery.

How Custom LASIK Works
LaserVue surgeons will begin by using the Wavefront device to transmit a safe ray of light into your eye. The light is then reflected back off the retina, out through the pupil, and into the device, where the reflected wave of light is received and arranged into a unique pattern that captures your lower- and higher-order aberrations.

All of these visual irregularities are then displayed as a wavefront map. The map provides information on more than just the front surface of the eye. It shows the variability of how light is focused in different areas of the eye. This information is then transferred to the excimer laser, enabling the surgeon to customize the LASIK procedure to your unique visual requirements. The final result is a treatment as unique as your DNA or a fingerprint. Like conventional LASIK, custom LASIK won't cure all vision-related problems, so it's important to discuss its applications with LaserVue doctors to determine if you are a good candidate.

Wavefront technology helps LaserVue doctors to:

• Assess whether you may be a good candidate for custom Wavefront laser vision correction;
• Verify the accuracy of your glasses prescription; and
• Personalize your laser treatment plan to your eyes' unique focusing ability.

Why we've chosen the VISX CustomVue™ System at LaserVue:

• VISX CustomVue™ System includes a diagnostic wavefront analysis device (WavePrint™) that maps the entire optical path of the eye. This WavePrint™ Map, called the "fingerprint of your vision," provides LaserVue doctor’s with precise and detailed information about your vision. This is used to program the laser for precise, personalized treatment.
• The WavePrint Map provides information on more than just the corneal surface of the eye. It reveals the way the entire optical system processes light. The WavePrint Map provides a new level of diagnostic information previously unavailable.
• Using the WavePrint Map, LaserVue doctors can more accurately assess whether patients are good candidates for laser vision correction. The WavePrint Map is becoming the gold standard in vision measurement.
• With 3D ActiveTrak™ eye-tracking technology and auto-centering, the laser detects and compensates for small eye movements by guiding the laser beam to keep it centered precisely over the treatment area.
• VISX's exclusive ActiveTrak™ is the only system that allows the doctor to track eye movement in all three dimensions. Having the beam centered correctly on the eye at all times helps ensure precise results.
• Unlike other lasers with eye-tracking technology, ActiveTrak requires no pupil dilation, leading to an even quicker recovery time.
• VISX Star S4 laser systems produce seven variable sized beams, giving LaserVue surgeons greater flexibility and allowing for a fast, smooth treatment with precise corneal shaping.
• The VISX Exclusive SmartBeam™ technology adjusts beam size according to treatment, minimizing corneal tissue removal.
• The STAR S4 variable beam technology allows LaserVue surgeons to treat patients with different laser beam sizes and shapes, determined by each patient's visual needs.
• VISX laser systems produce an extremely smooth surface on the cornea after the procedure. Smoother ablations, as they're known, promote faster healing and result in better visual outcomes.
• VISX S4 laser system achieves an optical zone that may result in reduced problems with night vision.
• VISX S4 laser system requires a shorter procedure time than many lasers, which enhances comfort and may reduce the risk of postoperative complications.

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	1. What Wavefront optical distortions are present in an eye?
	2. What is the CustomVue System (Custom LASIK)?
	3. Is Wavefront a separate procedure?
	4. Is Wavefront more beneficial for some people than others?
	5. What are the benefits of Custom LASIK?
	6. How much does CustomVue cost?
	7. Can I get the same results from a regular LASIK procedure if I choose not to have CustomVue?
	8. How should I decide whether or not to choose CustomVue?

Answers

1. What Wavefront optical distortions are present in an eye?
In general terms, there are two types of optical distortions: low order and high order. Low order distortions include nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. There are a number of types of high order distortions. These may be responsible for some of the vision and night vision concerns that some patients have had after laser surgery. These include ghosting ("double" vision), starbursts, and halos. The measurement and treatment of optical distortion is done with the CustomVue System. back to questions

2. What is the CustomVue System?
The CustomVue System includes the Wavefront Map, 3D ActiveTrak™ excimer laser with Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™). This system allows your surgeon to treat your optical distortion by performing Wavefront guided laser treatment according to your individual customized treatment plan. back to questions

3. Is Wavefront a separate procedure?
Wavefront may be used with traditional LASIK. CustomVue describes the measurement of optical distortion with Wavefront technology and the software used to run the excimer laser. There is no significant difference in how the actual LASIK procedure is done, whether Wavefront or conventional software is used. back to questions

4. Is CustomVue more beneficial for some people than others?
Variable Spot Scanning (VSS™), a component of The CustomVue System that allows for a larger treatment area, offers your surgeon greater flexibility in developing a more personalized laser vision procedure when pupil size may be a consideration. In addition, research has shown that CustomVue is particularly helpful when treating higher order distortions. This is especially beneficial for patients with higher prescriptions and larger pupils. back to questions

5. What are the benefits of Custom LASIK (CustomVue)?
The benefits of Wavefront guided laser vision correction include:

1. Higher chance of seeing 20/20 depending on your goals.
2. The ability to offer treatment to people with larger pupils.
3. Reduced frequency of night vision problems following treatment.
4. Clearer, crisper results compared to treatments performed without CustomVue.

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6. How much does CustomVue cost?
The final cost of laser vision correction depends on the type of procedure and whether your pre- and post-operative care is provided by LaserVue Medical Associates. Following your complementary personal assessment, we will provide you with an exact fee. back to questions

7. Can I get the same results from a regular LASIK procedure if I choose not to have CustomVue?
For patients with certain prescriptions, the likelihood of seeing 20/20 is essentially the same for CustomVue and conventional treatments. For appropriate patients with higher prescriptions, the likelihood of seeing 20/20 is higher with CustomVue. For all appropriate patients, the CustomVue treatments give a higher likelihood of seeing better than 20/20, decrease the likelihood of losing vision, and improve the likelihood of the same or better night vision. back to questions

8. How should I decide whether or not to choose CustomVue?
The first step is to contact LASERVUE MEDICAL ASSOCIATES to schedule a complementary personal vision assessment to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for laser vision correction and CustomVue. After considering the benefits of CustomVue and discussing your options with your surgeon, you will be in much better position to decide if custom Wavefront guided LASIK is right for you. back to questions

Complementary Personal Vision Assessment
The first step in having your vision corrected is to schedule a complementary personal vision assessment at LaserVue Medical Associates to determine if you are a likely candidate for laser vision correction. There is no fee for this assessment whether you choice to have the procedure or not.

Call 800-263-2078 to schedule your appointment now!

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