Myopia Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Myopia, including details on treatment, prevention, causes, correction.

Wavefront-guided ablation: evidence for efficacy compared to traditional ablation.

Netto MV, Dupps W, Wilson SE

The Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, and Department of Ophthalmology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.

PURPOSE: To provide an evidence-based overview of wavefront-guided refractive surgery outcomes, benefits, and limitations. DESIGN: Literature review. METHODS: Review of FDA study reports and indexed, peer-reviewed literature. RESULTS: More than 400 reports investigating wavefront applications in refractive surgery exist, but studies comparing the outcomes of wavefront-guided treatment with conventional treatment are few in number. Available studies do not overwhelmingly demonstrate superior visual results attributable to a wavefront-guided approach. CONCLUSIONS: While wavefront-guided refractive surgery provides excellent results, evidence is limited that it outperforms conventional laser in situ keratomileusis that incorporates broad ablation zones, smoothing to the periphery, eye-trackers, and other technological refinements. However, it is evident that wavefront-customized ablation holds a promising future and merits ongoing investigation.

Published 6 February 2006 in Am J Ophthalmol, 141(2): 360-368.
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