Posted by: Kent Kirk, MD in Newsletter
As a refractive surgeon, we have seen LASIK evolve dramatically over the course of our careers. What was once a relatively straightforward decision based primarily on refractive error and corneal measurements has become a much more comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s visual system.
I am excited to share a significant advancement in that evolution: WaveLight Plus Ray Tracing LASIK, now available at Kirk Eye Center. We are proud to be the first practice in the Chicagoland area to offer this technology.
What makes WaveLight Plus different?
The Sightmap device captures more than 100,000 data points across nine measurements, which are used to create a detailed 3D representation—or “digital twin”—of the patient’s eye. This gives me the ability to incorporate an exceptionally detailed set of measurements into the treatment planning process.
Ray-tracing technology then uses this individualized data to simulate how light travels through the patient’s visual system and helps develop a highly personalized treatment plan.
Rather than treating the refractive error alone, the goal is to account for the patient’s unique visual characteristics and optimize the quality of their postoperative vision.
Why This Matters Clinically
Precision and Personalization
WaveLight Plus allows us to move beyond a traditional prescription-based approach. Each treatment is customized based on the individual characteristics of the patient’s eye.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that virtually all patients achieve 20/20 or better, with many achieving 20/15. At Kirk Eye Center, we are seeing many patients achieve 20/15 vision as early as their first postoperative day.
Quality of Vision
The technology incorporates advanced algorithms designed to account for higher-order aberrations. By addressing these optical characteristics, the goal is to improve contrast sensitivity and reduce visual disturbances such as glare and halos, particularly in low-light conditions.
A More Integrated Measurement Process
Sightmap obtains the necessary measurements through a single advanced platform. This can simplify the preoperative workflow while reducing the potential for transcription or data-entry errors associated with transferring measurements between multiple devices.
The LASIK Candidate Has Changed
Earlier in my career, our decision tree was relatively simple: Does the patient have a refractive error? Is the prescription within an acceptable range? Does the cornea have adequate thickness and shape? If the answers were favorable, LASIK was frequently the solution.
Today, the decision-making process is considerably more sophisticated. When evaluating a refractive surgery candidate, we consider:
- Refractive error
- Corneal thickness and shape
- Epithelial behavior
- Corneal biomechanics
- Ocular surface health
- Anterior chamber anatomy
- Crystalline lens function
- Presbyopia
- Retinal status
- Lifestyle and visual demands
- Patient expectations and visual priorities
- The patient’s long-term visual journey
The question is no longer simply:
“Can I perform LASIK on this patient?”
Instead we should be asking:
“What procedure provides this individual with the best combination of vision, safety, quality of vision, and long-term durability?”
Matching the Procedure to the Patient
This broader perspective is particularly important when discussing referrals for refractive surgery.
A younger patient with moderate myopia, a healthy ocular surface, and favorable corneal anatomy may be an excellent candidate for WaveLight Plus LASIK.
Conversely, a patient with higher myopia or corneal anatomy that makes additional tissue removal less desirable may be better served by an alternative, such as an Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL).
Or those patients who have a presbyopic lens who are motivated to not have to utilize readers and want to undergo a Refractive Lens Exchange Procedure to restore the full range of vision they once had.
We welcome the opportunity to evaluate your patients and determine whether WaveLight Plus LASIK—or another refractive procedure—is the most appropriate option for their individual eyes and visual goals. Our goal is not to make every patient a LASIK patient. Our goal is to make sure every patient receives the right vision correction procedure for their eyes, their lifestyle, and their stage of life.