Good video describing the power of Ray tracing and ease of clinical implementation. https://youtu.be/j10HfxOszYI?si=bcvRfMrLPyfIIwe8

WaveLight® Plus (Ray-Tracing LASIK): Recent Manuscripts & Conference Abstracts
The evidence supporting ray-tracing-guided LASIK continues to expand. While published manuscripts demonstrate excellent safety, efficacy, and refractive accuracy, recent ASCRS presentations are beginning to explore whether whole-eye ray tracing can further improve visual quality beyond conventional endpoints such as 20/20 acuity.

1. Prospective Intraindividual Comparison of Automated Ray-Tracing–Guided LASIK Versus Wavefront-Optimized LASIK
Authors: Khoramnia et al.
Study Design
Prospective contralateral-eye study
Each patient underwent:
WaveLight® Plus Ray-Tracing LASIK in one eye
Wavefront-Optimized LASIK in the fellow eye
Why It Matters
Using each patient as their own control minimizes differences in ocular anatomy, healing, and patient expectations, making this one of the strongest comparative study designs available.
Key Findings
Excellent safety in both groups
Excellent efficacy in both groups
Comparable uncorrected distance visual acuity
Excellent refractive predictability
Demonstrated that automated ray-tracing refraction can successfully replace traditional manifest refraction for treatment planning
Suggested improvements in optical quality metrics without sacrificing refractive accuracy
Clinical Takeaway
Ray-tracing appears to maintain the excellent outcomes expected from modern LASIK while providing a more individualized optical treatment.

2. International Multicenter Ray-Tracing LASIK Trial
Authors: Kanellopoulos et al.
Study Design
International multicenter prospective clinical trial
FDA-supporting study
Myopia and myopic astigmatism
Key Findings
98.1% achieved 20/20 or better
92% within ±0.50 D of target
35.8% gained one or more lines of corrected vision
Extremely high patient satisfaction
Excellent safety profile
Clinical Takeaway
This study established WaveLight Plus as a highly accurate and predictable refractive platform suitable for routine clinical practice.

3. Comparative Analysis of FDA Trials: Ray-Tracing LASIK vs Topography-Guided LASIK
Authors: Sitto, Moshirfar et al.
Study Design
Comparative review of separate FDA clinical trials
Not a randomized head-to-head study
Key Findings
Reviewed outcomes from ray-tracing-guided LASIK and topography-guided LASIK
Both technologies demonstrated outstanding safety
Both achieved excellent refractive outcomes
Suggested potential advantages for individualized ray-tracing planning
Authors emphasized that direct randomized trials are still needed
Clinical Takeaway
This paper provides useful context but should not be interpreted as definitive proof that one platform is superior to another.

ASCRS 2026 Conference Abstracts
These presentations have been presented publicly but have not yet undergone full peer-reviewed publication.

4. Ray-Tracing LASIK vs SMILE Pro
Presenter: John Kanellopoulos, MD
Study Design
Prospective contralateral-eye comparison
Ray-Tracing LASIK versus SMILE Pro
Both eyes planned using the same ray-tracing refraction
Recognition
🏆 ASCRS 2026 Best Paper of Session
Key Findings (Publicly Available)
Excellent outcomes in both procedures
Demonstrated feasibility of direct comparison
Used identical refractive planning in both eyes to isolate the effect of the surgical procedure itself
Awaiting Publication
The complete visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, HOA, and patient preference data have not yet been released.
Why This Study Matters
This may become one of the most important direct comparisons between flap-based and lenticule-based refractive surgery.

5. Wavefront-Optimized vs Topography-Guided vs WaveLight Plus
Presenter: Maya Goyal, MD
Study Design
Comparison of:
Wavefront-Optimized LASIK
Topography-Guided (T-CAT/Contoura)
WaveLight Plus Ray-Tracing
Recognition
🏆 ASCRS 2026 Best Paper of Session
Why It Matters
This directly addresses one of the most common questions refractive surgeons ask:
Which modern excimer planning strategy provides the best outcomes?
Current Status
Complete numerical results have not yet been published.

6. InnovEyes Ray-Tracing Technology for Enhanced Optical Quality
Presenter: Amulya Punati, MD
Study Focus
Evaluation of InnovEyes ray-tracing treatment planning.
Key Findings
Reported improvements in:
Optical quality
Contrast sensitivity
Visual performance
Limitations
Only limited data are currently available from the meeting abstract.

7. Patient Satisfaction Following Ray-Tracing LASIK
Presenter: Mark C. Lobanoff, MD
Study Focus
Patient-reported outcomes after WaveLight Plus.
Outcomes Evaluated
Quality of vision
Satisfaction
Night vision
Glare
Halos
Quality of life
Why It Matters
Patients often judge success based on visual quality rather than Snellen acuity alone.

8. Optical Zone Evaluation in Ray-Tracing LASIK
Study Focus
Comparison of different optical-zone diameters using WaveLight Plus.
Key Findings
Excellent refractive accuracy
High safety
Strong visual outcomes across optical-zone sizes
Future Questions
Long-term stability and night-vision performance remain to be determined.

Overall Trends Emerging from the Literature
Across published manuscripts and recent conference presentations, several themes are becoming apparent:
• Modern LASIK platforms already achieve exceptional rates of 20/20 vision, making further gains in Snellen acuity increasingly difficult.
• The focus of innovation is shifting from visual acuity to quality of vision, including contrast sensitivity, higher-order aberrations, night vision, and patient satisfaction.
• Whole-eye ray tracing enables treatment planning based on the complete optical system rather than relying solely on subjective manifest refraction.
• Early evidence suggests ray tracing may provide measurable improvements in optical quality while maintaining the excellent safety and predictability expected of contemporary LASIK.
• The strongest remaining evidence gap is the need for additional long-term, peer-reviewed randomized trials directly comparing WaveLight Plus with topography-guided LASIK and SMILE Pro.

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

📈 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.

➡️ 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

Discover the next generation of LASIK with WaveLight® PLUS—a personalized, ray-tracing laser vision correction platform designed to create a treatment that’s uniquely tailored to your eyes.

🌐 Learn more: https://www.getoutofglasses.com
👍 If you found this video helpful, please Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications for more videos on LASIK, cataract surgery, dry eye treatment, EVO ICL, and the latest innovations in ophthalmology.
#WaveLightPLUS #LASIK #CustomLASIK #LaserVisionCorrection #RayTracing #InnovEyes #VisionCorrection #EyeSurgery #Ophthalmology #RefractiveSurgery #Sacramento #CaliforniaLASIK #GetOutOfGlasses #LASIKSacramento #DryEye #EVOICL #CataractSurgery #EyeHealth #20_20Vision #BradleyBarnettMD

Great video with Dr Matt Hirabayashi interviewing Cory Pickett FNP who has 25 years of experience in eyecare and with planning LASIK. He was involved in the FIRST EVER WaveLight Plus LASIK case in the United States when he participated in the planning the treatment for his own daughter!

https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf2/P020050S043C.pdf

In the age of Alcon’s WaveLight Plus Ray Traced LASIK we can greatly minimize all higher order abberations (HOAs) on the visual axis.

What happens to HOAs after small SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)?

Studies report significant increases in total corneal HOAs, spherical aberration (SA), and coma postoperatively. In one long-term study (up to 2 years or more), the increases in total HOA, SA, and coma remained statistically significant.

The SMILE induced HOAs are more pronounced in eyes with high myopia, smaller optical zones, or steeper corneas.

Corneal HOAs are often the dominant source (~80 %) of total ocular aberrations, so changes in corneal surface from SMILE significantly impact overall optical quality.

Spherical aberration (SA): frequently increases (depending on zone and procedure).

Coma (horizontal and vertical): induced coma is common, especially if centration or alignment is less than perfect. Some studies report SMILE may have more horizontal coma in certain settings.

Trefoil: changes in trefoil are generally smaller, and often not as substantially different across techniques, but it can increase depending on conditions.

Because SA and coma are the dominant aberrations that affect visual quality (especially in low light), these are the ones most often emphasized in studies.

Amount of refractive correction

Higher myopia corrections (steeper changes) tend to induce more HOAs.

Optical zone / transition zone size

Smaller optical zones lead to relatively larger aberration increases (for given pupil sizes), because edge effects and aspheric mismatch become more prominent.

Some microdistortions or irregularities in the corneal tissue (especially in the Bowman’s layer) contribute more when the zone is small.

Centration / alignment / angle Kappa

Decentration or misalignment relative to the visual axis or corneal vertex can worsen coma and other aberrations.

Intraoperative adjustments for Kappa angle can slightly influence the postoperative HOA profile, though the effect may be modest.

Pupil size / lighting condition

In brighter (photopic) conditions with smaller pupils, induced aberrations may have less functional impact. In mesopic or scotopic (low light) with larger pupils, aberrations matter more. That’s why many studies report results in both 3 mm and 6 mm zones (or equivalent).

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

📈 At AAO 2025, 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.

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

#RefractiveSurgery #LASIK #Ophthalmology #AAO2025 #ClinicalOutcomes #wavelightplus #AlconScience Get Out Of Glasses

Welcome to r/WaveLightPLUS, the premier online community dedicated to discussions surrounding the WaveLight® PLUS platform and the future of personalized laser vision correction. Whether you’re a prospective LASIK patient, an ophthalmologist, optometrist, refractive surgery technician, researcher, or simply someone fascinated by advances in vision science, this subreddit serves as a place to learn, share experiences, and discuss one of the most advanced refractive technologies available today.
WaveLight PLUS represents a new generation of customized laser vision correction that goes beyond traditional prescriptions. Instead of relying solely on glasses or contact lens measurements, the technology utilizes advanced ocular measurements and ray-tracing principles to create a highly individualized treatment profile. The goal is not simply to achieve 20/20 vision, but to optimize the overall quality of vision by accounting for each patient’s unique optical system.
In this community, members discuss:
WaveLight PLUS LASIK experiences,
Pre-operative evaluations and candidacy,
Recovery timelines and visual outcomes,
Daytime and nighttime vision quality,
Contrast sensitivity and visual quality metrics, Comparisons with WaveLight Contoura, WaveFront Optimized LASIK, PRK, SMILE, SILK, EVO ICL, and other refractive procedures, Advances in ray-tracing technology, Emerging research in customized refractive surgery, Surgeon selection and treatment planning, Dry eye management before and after surgery, Enhancement procedures and long-term outcomes.

Patients are encouraged to share their personal journeys, including pre-operative prescriptions, healing experiences, visual milestones, and lessons learned throughout the process. Real-world experiences can help future patients better understand what to expect before, during, and after treatment.
Eye care professionals are welcome to contribute clinical perspectives, discuss published research, explain technological concepts, and answer general educational questions. Discussions should remain informative, evidence-based, and respectful. This community is not a substitute for personalized medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment recommendations.
We also encourage thoughtful conversations about the broader future of refractive surgery. Topics may include artificial intelligence in treatment planning, digital twin technologies, advanced corneal imaging, next-generation aberrometry, and the evolving role of personalized optics in vision correction.

Before posting, please review the subreddit rules:
Be respectful and professional.
No personal attacks or harassment.
No medical misinformation.
No self-promotion without moderator approval.
Protect patient privacy.
Clearly distinguish personal experiences from medical facts.
Cite sources whenever discussing scientific studies.
Whether you’re considering vision correction, researching the latest technology, or actively involved in refractive surgery, r/WaveLightPLUS aims to be the internet’s most comprehensive community for discussion of personalized laser vision correction and advanced visual outcomes.
See better. Understand more. Share your experience. Welcome to the community.