Traditional Vs Custom Lasik

Thousands of Canadians undergo some form of laser eye surgery each year to improve their vision and put an end to their dependence upon glasses or contact lenses. Both traditional LASIK and custom LASIK are two vision correction procedures that have made this possible.

Both are safe and very effective procedures. However, there are important differences between the two. If you are considering LASIK, you are likely wondering what the differences are so that you can make an informed decision.

This blog post will examine those differences in more detail below.

First and foremost, both traditional and custom LASIK are safe and effective procedures. However, advancements in technology have made it possible to deliver even better and more precise results, as is the case with custom LASIK. Custom LASIK, also known as wavefront LASIK, is the most advanced version of LASIK. In custom LASIK, your eyes are individually mapped to identify unique elements to each of your eyes. This information is downloaded to the excimer laser, which allows the laser to treat this specific pattern. As such, the results are better in that they are more customized. This is the first difference between the two procedures.

The second difference is that, as mentioned above, custom LASIK delivers more precise results. In this way, there is also less chance of glare, halos and so on (keep in mind, however, that traditional LASIK is still a very safe procedure). Above all, custom LASIK is more successful in its outcomes; essentially, more patients will go on to achieve 20/20 vision, which is better than what is possible with traditional LASIK.

But, there is another difference as well. Custom LASIK has now made it possible for a lot more people to improve their vision through LASIK surgery when they may have not been eligible in the past. Essentially, this goes back to the fact that custom LASIK is also able to treat more complex vision problems than in traditional LASIK.

In contrast, traditional LASIK, while still very effective, does not perform this prior mapping, making the results not as effective as custom LASIK. This is no fault of traditional LASIK; it is simply a matter of now having the technology available to deliver more advanced corrective vision procedures.

Traditional LASIK also only treats lower-aberration vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism as well.

Traditional LASIK is a highly safe and effective procedure that results in at least 20/40 unaided vision. In fact, traditional LASIK surgery procedure in Toronto can correct vision problems in the same way that glasses and contact lenses do. In other words, traditional LASIK treats lower order aberrations, which is precisely what glasses correct. However, with that said, while a person may achieve 20/20 vision through traditional LASIK, which isn’t always possible, he or she may still experience some visual errors due to higher order aberrations (it is also acknowledged that these aberrations are also side effects of traditional LASIK).

Higher order aberrations are small flaws in the cornea that cannot be corrected through traditional LASIK. Traditional LASIK involves the use to an excimer laser to reshape the cornea in order to restore clear vision in people with myopia or hyperopia (with or without astigmatism).

But, again, custom LASIK is the much more optimized version of traditional LASIK.

As mentioned above, advancements in technology have made this groundbreaking procedure possible. Custom LASIK not only treats the refractive errors and the lower-order aberrations, but also other irregularities in the cornea that cause various problems like poor night vision, halos and glare. These are optical defects called higher-order aberrations. Custom LASIK also treats other optical defects such as, double vision, poor sensitivity to contrast and starburst.

Given that custom LASIK is a more advanced version of traditional LASIK, custom LASIK does offer some distinct advantages over traditional LASIK. Not only does custom LASIK treat more complex vision problems, but it also results in clearer vision. The reason for this is that custom LASIK also improves quality, contrast and crispness.

Here are are some additional advantages of custom LASIK:

• Greater chance of achieving 20/20 vision without glasses

• Greater chance of better than 20/20 vision

Custom LASIK does offer distinct advantages over traditional LASIK due to the nature of the technology used. However, it’s also important to recognize that traditional LASIK is still considered a highly effective treatment for lower-order aberrations such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism.

Of course, those who might have been hesitant can now feel more confident than ever that they will receive the best possible visual outcomes with custom LASIK. Ultimately, deciding which type of LASIK is better for you will not only be a decision based on preference, but it will also depend on the nature of your vision problems. An eye surgeon will take the time to discuss your options with you during your consultation.

While traditional LASIK is still highly effective and safe, it is acknowledged by most eye surgeons that custom LASIK is the better option given that 98% of patients achieve better visual outcomes.

Most people will go on to achieve 20/20 vision or better with custom LASIK. Again, this is made possible due to advancements in technology. Not only does custom LASIK individually map the eyes, but the results are more precise, so that various aberrations like halos and glare are avoided.

If you were not eligible for traditional LASIK in the past, custom LASIK now may be a viable option for you to consider.

If you are interested in undergoing custom LASIK eye surgery, consider Herzig Eye Institute. Herzig Eye Institute is home to an industry-leading team of eye surgeons and eye care professionals with a proven track record of over 25 years.

For more information or to book a free consultation, call us at 416-929-2020 or contact us here.