One of the most common complaints about traditional LASIK, especially when it first became available in the United States, was that a small but significant percentage of patients who underwent the procedure emerged with impaired night vision. The degree of this impairment varied from patient to patient, and the condition often improved with time. However, the risk was prevalent enough to dissuade some people who were considering LASIK from committing to the procedure.
Thankfully, much has changed in recent years, and no practice has embodied the positive changes in LASIK technology quite like the practice of Andrew E. Holzman in Washington DC. Custom LASIK not only minimizes the risk of poor night vision, but it also offers patients who previously underwent traditional LASIK an opportunity to improve their night vision through retreatment. Both new LASIK patients and patients looking to improve their previous LASIK results are able to achieve outstanding results through custom LASIK surgery.
How Does Custom LASIK Differ from Traditional LASIK?
Traditional LASIK was remarkably safe and effective, but somewhat limited in its power to transform vision. This is because it could improve the same visual errors treated by eyeglasses – namely, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism – but could not correct higher order aberrations. Higher order aberrations encompass those tiny flaws in the shape of the cornea that are unique to each individual eye. Incidentally, it is higher order aberrations that are often responsible for poor night vision, among both those who have and who have not undergone traditional LASIK.
Custom LASIK, on the other hand, involves the use of wavefront technology to create an extraordinarily precise and detailed map of the eyes. This map is so accurate down to the smallest flaw that it accounts for even higher order aberrations. Dr. Holzman uses wavefront maps to guide the excimer laser to offer a truly customized LASIK procedure, correcting both common visual errors and the tiny, unique flaws.
The Correction of Night Vision through Custom LASIK
By correcting higher order aberrations, custom LASIK dramatically increases the chances that patients will achieve visual independence – that is, excellent unaided vision at all distances – without unwanted visual side effects, including poor night vision. The risk of poor night vision among custom LASIK patients is substantially smaller than among traditional LASIK patients, while the chances of achieving improved night vision among first-time LASIK patients is considerably higher.
Those concerned with custom LASIK cost should note that, while the initial cost may be higher than with traditional LASIK, the possibility that a secondary LASIK procedure may be necessary will be much less. Overall, custom LASIK is more cost-effective than traditional LASIK and more likely to deliver the crisp, accurate unaided vision that patients desire.
Learn More about Custom LASIK
At the practice of Dr. Andrew E. Holzman, we are pleased to offer one of the finest records of success in LASIK surgery in the world. To learn more about custom LASIK and how it can be performed to improve poor night vision, please contact our eye care center today.
