Wavefront Mapping

If you’re interested in laser eye surgery, you may have heard about wavefront technology and wavefront eye mapping. But how exactly can wavefront mapping help you? Let’s explore how it can be used to get the best results possible from your LASIK procedure.

woman having a consultation with an eye doctor

What Is Wavefront Mapping?

Wavefront mapping is designed to help eye doctors more accurately diagnose eye problems. Traditional vision testing is subjective — using a phoropter, the patient looks through lenses of different powers to see which produces the best image. Wavefront eye mapping, on the contrary, is objective and doesn’t rely on the patient’s perception. With wavefront technology, also called aberrometry, your doctor can get a picture of your optic system and any aberrations or vision errors. These vision errors are identified automatically based on how the light waves traveled through your eye. This allows your doctor to identify both lower-order aberrations, like nearsightedness or astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations, which are more complex. It’s these higher-order aberrations that can cause side effects like halos or ghosting after LASIK. Wavefront mapping can help reduce these side effects, improving your LASIK results.

Wavefront Mapping to Properly Diagnose Unique Eye Problems

The wavefront mapping process involves using specialized equipment that sends a wave of light into the eye and measures how it is distorted as it passes through the optical system. By analyzing the distortions and irregularities in the wavefront, eye care professionals gain valuable insights into the specific visual issues affecting an individual. This high-precision data guides the development of custom treatment plans, enabling tailored solutions such as wavefront-guided LASIK, contact lenses, or customized eyeglass prescriptions. Wavefront mapping has improved the accuracy of vision correction procedures and paved the way for more personalized and effective treatments, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of patients' vision and eye health.

Wavefront Mapping and You

How exactly can wavefront mapping help you? If you find yourself here, you may have heard about wavefront technology and eye mapping—this latest development in laser eye surgery allows your surgeon to precisely diagnose and treat your unique condition. Here, we explore all the ways in which wavefront mapping can be used to get the best results possible from your LASIK procedure.

What You Should Know About Wavefront Mapping

Wavefront mapping is designed to help eye doctors more accurately diagnose eye problems. Traditional vision testing is subjective—using a phoropter, the patient looks through lenses of different powers to see which produces the best image. The technique has worked for decades but is far from precise, allowing for a large margin of error—not something you want when it comes to your eyesight. Wavefront eye mapping is the latest technology used for objective measurements and precise diagnostics. With wavefront technology, also called aberrometry, your doctor can get a picture of your optic system and any aberrations or vision errors.

These vision errors are identified automatically based on how light waves travel through your eye. The data gathered regarding light and your eyes can then be linked to common vision problems like near- or farsightedness. The technology allows your doctor to identify both lower-order aberrations, like nearsightedness or astigmatism, and higher-order aberrations, which are more complex. It’s important to note that these higher-order aberrations can cause side effects like halos or ghosting after LASIK. Wavefront mapping helps reduce the occurrence of these side effects, improving your LASIK results.

How Is Wavefront Mapping Performed?

Aberrometry measures how a wavefront of light passes through the refractive parts of your eye—both your cornea and your crystalline lens. Simply put, wavefront mapping measures light waves as they come in contact with your eye, allowing for a more precise and detailed diagnosis. For the wavefront eye exam, your doctor will use a device called an aberrometer.

The process is simple and will go something like this:

Place your chin on the aberrometer’s chin rest.
Look into the device.
Focus your eyes on a point of light for a few seconds.

With these three simple steps, the wavefront eye exam is complete, and a map of your eye will be printed for your doctor. Any distortions taking place as the light travels through your eye, called aberrations, are then identified accurately and can be addressed during LASIK eye surgery. Remember that no pair of eyes is optically perfect, so every wavefront testing result will contain some distortions. That’s why wavefront mapping results are sometimes called an “optical fingerprint”—no two eyes produce the same results.

How Is Your Wavefront Map Used?

Once your eye doctor has your wavefront testing results, your wavefront map is used to create a unique and personalized treatment plan for you. In other words, you’ll get a custom procedure designed just for your eyes. At Dello Russo, we believe that because no two eyes are the same, why should two LASIK procedures be the same?

How Dello Russo Laser Vision Uses Wavefront Mapping for Your Procedure

At Dello Russo Laser Vision, we use wavefront technology to provide you with a procedure that addresses your exact vision needs. Because the technology is so precise, we can create a unique vision correction plan made just for you. You’ll get more effective results and experience fewer side effects. Using this technology can also help us establish a more precise estimate of the total cost of your procedure. If you’re interested in wavefront eye mapping, schedule your free initial consultation today. Meet with one of our experienced Dello Russo eye surgeons, and we’ll begin putting together your personalized treatment.