Now that Laser Vision Correction (LASIK, PRK) has been approved for all refractive errors -- nearsighted , farsighted, astigmatism, and presbyopia - we are often asked if there are even more improvements to come. The answer is an emphatic Y E S. Many new technological advances are being made every day in all areas of refractive surgery. Two new developments that have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration are Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) and Custom Wavefront Ablation.
CONDUCTIVE KERATOPLASTY
Conductive Keratoplasty (CK) is a new technology offering a relatively inexpensive and minimally invasive procedure to treat farsighted individuals as well as those patients who only use reading glasses.
With CK, the surgeon applies low-energy, high frequency current directly into the peripheral cornea using a probe that barely touches the eye. Following CK the uncorrected vision, predictability and stability are as good or better than those obtained with hyperopic LASIK surgery.
The range of correction is limited to low hyperopia (farsightedness) and presbyopia (difficulty reading fine print after age 40).
CK, which does not involve cutting the eye, has an extremely high safety record and is an appealing alternative to surgeons and patients alike who do not want, or cannot have, LASIK surgery.
WAVEFRONT CUSTOM LASIK SURGERY
Presently, excimer laser surgeon (LASIK, PRK) is performed somewhat similar to the way most of us purchase a suit. We select "off the rack" and have it altered so that we get the best fit possible. But there are others who cannot be fit by this approach because of their shape or size. They can only achieve an excellent fit by having a "custom made" suit that will fit them like a glove.
The same is true of Laser Vision Correction. Most people have excellent results with existing laser technology because they're not "hard to fit."
However, approximately 15% of patients who wish to have refractive surgery are not good candidates with today's technology for a multitude of reasons. They may have corneas that are too steep, too flat, too thin, or irregular in shape. They may have pupils that are too large or they may have had sub-optimal laser treatments in the past.
Now, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first wavefront device for custom ablation. The Alcon LADARWave wavefront measuring device used in conjunction with the LADARVision 4000 excimer laser is the first device to receive FDA approval.
Unlike current laser treatments for correcting refractive errors, wavefront-guided customized LASIK should provide the patient with not only better visual acuity but also with less distortion in their vision, especially at night.
"We are proud to be the first in the industry to offer an approach that has the potential to improve visual acuity and enhance overall visual quality as compared to today's conventional LASIK surgery "said Bill Benton, VP, Surgical Division for Alcon.
It works like this. A wavefront analyzer will send light waves through the pupil to the retina where they will then return to the measuring device called an aberrometer. The aberrometer measures any distortion (aberration) in the light rays (wave front) returning.
This information will then be fed to the computer-guided excimer laser and a "custom ablation" (LASIK, PRK) is then performed to correct these abnormalities. This process will provide an entirely new level of detail and accuracy to laser vision correction. The combined data will be used to design a treatment suitable for one and only one human eye.
CUSTOM ABLATION and WAVE-FRONT TECHNOLOGY WILL allow the surgeon to treat a much broader group of patients, improving not only the quantity of vision but especially the quality of vision.
To find out if you are a candidate for these exciting new technologies, call our office at 713 799-9040 for a FREE Consultation.
The Laser Vision Center - Chris J. Cabler, M.D. 
Dr. Cabler is a native Houstonian and fifth generation Texan. He obtained
his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. After interning at Hermann Hospital in Houston, he completed his Ophthalmological residency at The University of Texas Medical School at
Houston.
Dr. Cabler is active in the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the International Society of Refractive Surgery and other medical organizations. As a practicing ophthalmologist, Dr. Cabler provides comprehensive ophthalmological care and a full service optical center.
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