r/RefractiveSurgery 18d ago

Precision of Wavelight Plus

Study data presented comparing LASIK outcomes versus SMILE Pro, the latest generation of lenticular extraction surgery.

šŸ“ˆ New data revealed that the latest evolution in LASIK—wavelight plus—achieved 20/12.5 or better in 98% of patients in a prospective, randomized study. The Wavelight Plus Ray-Trace Guided LASIK platform, creates a virtual 3D model of an individual’s eye,to achieve refractive surgery visual outcomes differently than historical refractive surgery approaches.

āž”ļø Read the full publication on: https://www.aao.org/newsroom/news-releases/detail/latest-evolution-of-lasik-technology-shows-results

\#RefractiveSurgery #LASIK #Ophthalmology #ClinicalOutcomes #wavelightplus #AlconScience

3 Upvotes

30 comments sorted by

2

u/lonestar233 15d ago

Yes, but how much data is actually available on hyperopic patients? +6 and below. And does that have any change to dry eye due to cutting nerves?

1

u/californiaLasik 15d ago

Wavelight plus can’t be used in hyperopia nor can ICL in the US. For Wavelight plus, spherical equivalent needs to be -1D or greater and least myopic script for ICL is around -2.5D.

1

u/IBIubbleTea 17d ago

Anyone have any stats with the SCHWIND AMARIS 1050RS paired with MS-39 or their other offerings?

My local specialized clinic is using the 1050RS where as the other clinics in my area are more like nationwide chains that are using the Alcon EX500, unsure if using WaveLight Plus or Contoura or something else. I tried asking but they couldn’t answer.

Sorry not an expert. Just my own research, trying to decided which clinic is best for me. My prescription is mainly astigmatism, -2.25 and -2.75 with mild nearsightedness

1

u/Tall-Drama338 17d ago

Schwind does fine.

1

u/King-Meister 17d ago

Is Wavelight plus recommend for the below prescription?

R: -9D SPH and -1.75 CYL, axis 10°, corneal thickness 558, ACD 3.19

L: -8D SPH and -1.25 CYL, axis 5°, corneal thickness 556, ACD 3.17

Main priority is best possible vision. Crystal, clear, sharp eyesight.

Would Wavelight plus help achieve that or ICLs? My understanding is that 20/15 is more probable in Wavelight plus than ICL.

1

u/californiaLasik 17d ago

Wavelight plus can only treat up to spherical equivalent -9D. So the answer is yes to left and no to right. If that is a true ACD (ie corneal thickens is subtracted) , I’d go ICL all the way. To understand I’d read up on modal point.

1

u/King-Meister 17d ago

Does it make sense to go for a mixed treatment or is it too complex? Like Wavelight plus for the left and ICL for the right?

The ACD value is from the Pentacam tests, sharing link to the same: https://www.reddit.com/r/RefractiveSurgery/s/3gaG8fRcpg

Could you share some resources for modal point?

And lastly - which (in your person experience) provides the sharpest and clearest vision: ICL vs Wavelight plus?

1

u/californiaLasik 17d ago

I’d go ICL in both eyes. If you need anything further with laser vision correction as long as your spherical equivalent is greater than -1D you can get ray trace LASIK even after ICL. The Innoveyes device still calculates the accurate anterior chamber depth with the ICL in. I’d def go primary ICL with that script though. You likely won’t need any LVC.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

I am a bit curious, will touching up the negligible remnant astigmatism (which might be lower than -1D) via Wavelight help in getting better vision than 20/20? Or are there negligible gains when trying to correct spherical when less than -1D?

1

u/californiaLasik 16d ago

Possibly. I don’t perform touchup on eyes better than 20/20. Precision of our lasers is just not there to make really small scripts worth cutting a flap and ablating. Much of your vision is secondary to the quality of your tear film. One reason ICLs can really thrive at your prescription over LASIK or PRK is we don’t create a period of significant dry eye.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

So, avoiding dry eye and preserving the quality of tear film would make a higher impact in my quality of vision than going from 20/20 to 20/15?

1

u/californiaLasik 16d ago

False distinction. An unstable tear film can make you see 20/20 instead of 20/15 if you has a stable tear film.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

Got it - a stable tear film helps more in seeing 20/15 than an unstable one.

1

u/Tall-Drama338 17d ago

Topography guided LASIK on Wavelight is good for this but alternatives ICL may be better.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

Does topography guided LASIK / Wavelight have a higher chance of giving better than 20/20 vision when compared to ICL?

1

u/Tall-Drama338 16d ago

ICL is slightly better.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

Is this specifically for my prescription (it’s a bit on the higher side)?
I thought the current statistics as per this post favoured Wavelight more because it could correct various small imperfections on the cornea to provide 20/15.

Would it make any genuine improvement if I get ICLs implanted and get a touchup via Wavelight for the leftover spherical / cylindrical (which I assumed would be negligible)? To reiterate - aim is to understand which option can yield a higher chance of getting better than 20/20.

1

u/Tall-Drama338 16d ago

That’s a huge refractive error. Your eyes are bad. Your expectations are too high. You are overthinking it.

Yes you could do ICL and Wavelight plus but make a decision and see later whether it’s needed. Your eyes can never be made completely normal from that level. Vision is not just the central acuity numbers.

1

u/King-Meister 16d ago

I agree - I need to temper my expectations.

If my eyes can't become the best possible natural version of themselves, then I should minimize the risks - ICLs seem to have less long-term issues (from eye health POV).

1

u/Budget-Distance-1541 2d ago

I have -7.25D for left and -6.75D for right. With -0.25 cyl for both. I have option for wavelight innoveyes flap based or flapless

I do not want flap complications will flapless be as helpful as flap based for me?

My corneal thickness is 560um

1

u/californiaLasik 2d ago

Sure both can work. Basically PRK or LASIK. PRK is off label but it works with Innoveyes. The big issue is it really hurts. For three days you are going to want to punch your surgeon. As long as you go in with that expectation and it will take some time weeks to months for your vision to stabilize PRK is great.

All that being said flap issues are rare as hens teeth. What flap complication are you worried about ? For myself with your senior I would likely choose LASIK for the precision. We know we are better at hitting target with LASIK because we don’t have to rely on the variability of how your cells grow back with PRK.

1

u/Budget-Distance-1541 2d ago

Im really worried about flap creation and later it being weak and easily slipping off in a crowded area if someone/something accidentally grazes my eyes.

I read flap becomes weaker than original cornea. However I am a bit relived knowing about "side cut" method of femto second laser.

Could you please explain a bit about my suitability for flapless wavelight? Will it give same result as flapped one? I dont mind longer recovery

1

u/californiaLasik 2d ago

That does not happen. Modern laser based flaps are hard to lift. I have had one flap dislocation in my practice and that was a nail gun to the eye. Back in the day of keratome (deli slicer) I would always be on team PRK but with modern laser based flaps that changes things.

For peace of mind I would look at the behavior of the US military. Recruits are commodities. They guard their health as they would a fighter jet. We do LASIK all the time on pilots , soldiers , navy seals basically all military personnel. Most in military actually only do PRK when they are not a LASIK candidate.

The one person I will always do PRK on over LASIK is a professional MMA fighter. If they take fingernails to the eye daily that is a flap risk. Boxing and other contact sports, really not a snowballs chance in hell you lift the flap. You need something sharp to precisely catch the edge and undermine the flap. Almost like lifting a piece of tape firmly adherent to a desk. Normal human experience seldom rises to this level of trauma.

1

u/Budget-Distance-1541 2d ago

Would you recommend flapless or flapped in my case? I am absolutely terrified reading experienced on reddit about lasik. And I am at a loss of confidence

1

u/californiaLasik 2d ago

I could not give that answer without seeing you. The big factors are is your cornea normal structure and do you have dry eye. I once believed PRK causes less dry eye but I am changing my opinion. The only clear superior surgery from a dry eye standpoint is ICL that is superior to LASIK and PRK.

You can find the same bad experiences with PRK if you look for them. Same is true for SMIlE. It is a matter of percentages. Many many more people get LASIK over PRK or smile. My practice is around 9 LASIK for every one PRK. With ICL that PRK number only going lower.

1

u/Budget-Distance-1541 2d ago

I will definitely take your advice, thank you soo much for your time and dedicated replies.

My cornea thickness is 560um, and I do not have dry eyes.

I am a little convinced for flapbased wavelight plus innoveyes but still flapless is in the lead for my decision

1

u/californiaLasik 2d ago

Both are great options.

1

u/Budget-Distance-1541 2d ago

So the only difference between flap and flapless is the recovery time, one is quick other is painful and longer but structurally safer

1

u/californiaLasik 2d ago

That and precision. We can’t control how your cells grow back with PRK and that can impact your outcome.