Lasik Eyes Surgery - Is custom LASIK always better than standard LASIK?

Author

Is custom LASIK always better than standard LASIK?

2006-07-27, 4:28 pm

After reading about the superior results compared to standard LASIK, I was
hoping to get custom LASIK done. My eyes are about -7 with about 1.25 of
astigmatism.

After going to a LASIK place today for an evalutation, and being told that I
have thick corneas (measured at 550) and small pupils, they said that with
my high prescription, they'd recommend standard LASIK on the LADARVision
laser because it takes off 30% less tissue, and I'd have plenty of cornea
thickness left over for enhancements, if needed.

I didn't want them to dilate my pupils today because I have to read at work,
so they'll do that before surgery if I opt to do that, do the wavefront
analysis and let me know if anything changes or if I wouldn't be a good
candidate for the LADARVision. But they said so far the LADARVision is the
best laser for me and they said they don't push the custom LASIK (they have
three custom lasik lasers, so it's not a matter of them not having the
technology) because it's not best for everyone. He also said, with my degree
of myopia, on this laser they are able to get 97% of people seeing 20/20,
and with an enhancement, virtually everyone sees 20/20 or better.

Is that true that custom LASIK isn't always as good as standard LASIK? From
what I've read, it seems like custom LASIK results are always better
statistically than standard LASIK.

For all the anti-LASIK people out there, no need to send me your warnings
not to do LASIK. But for those LASIK experts out there who work in the
industry, please share your opinion on whether they're leading me down the
correct path. I'm glad they're not pushing their most expensive custom LASIK
option if it's not necessary, but want to make sure they're not pointing me
toward an older laser with obsolete technology unless it's the absolute best
option.

--
TK

Ragnar

2006-07-27, 9:26 pm

That doesn't make sense.. thick corneas and small pupils are both good
things. You don't need to worry about having enough tissue. I would
not recommend Ladarvsion.
The biggest problem with ladarvision is that it requires the pupils to
be dilated for the surgery... and pupils do not dilate evenly, so the
center of the dilated pupil is not the same center as the undilated
pupil... so when the surgery is done on the dilated pupil.. you have a
significant risk of having a decentered ablation.

On Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:04:10 -0500, "DK" <none@NoSpam.com> wrote:

>After reading about the superior results compared to standard LASIK, I was
>hoping to get custom LASIK done. My eyes are about -7 with about 1.25 of
>astigmatism.
>
>After going to a LASIK place today for an evalutation, and being told that I
>have thick corneas (measured at 550) and small pupils, they said that with
>my high prescription, they'd recommend standard LASIK on the LADARVision
>laser because it takes off 30% less tissue, and I'd have plenty of cornea
>thickness left over for enhancements, if needed.
>
>I didn't want them to dilate my pupils today because I have to read at work,
>so they'll do that before surgery if I opt to do that, do the wavefront
>analysis and let me know if anything changes or if I wouldn't be a good
>candidate for the LADARVision. But they said so far the LADARVision is the
>best laser for me and they said they don't push the custom LASIK (they have
>three custom lasik lasers, so it's not a matter of them not having the
>technology) because it's not best for everyone. He also said, with my degree
>of myopia, on this laser they are able to get 97% of people seeing 20/20,
>and with an enhancement, virtually everyone sees 20/20 or better.
>
>Is that true that custom LASIK isn't always as good as standard LASIK? From
>what I've read, it seems like custom LASIK results are always better
>statistically than standard LASIK.
>
>For all the anti-LASIK people out there, no need to send me your warnings
>not to do LASIK. But for those LASIK experts out there who work in the
>industry, please share your opinion on whether they're leading me down the
>correct path. I'm glad they're not pushing their most expensive custom LASIK
>option if it's not necessary, but want to make sure they're not pointing me
>toward an older laser with obsolete technology unless it's the absolute best
>option.

serebel

2006-07-27, 9:26 pm

DK wrote:
> After reading about the superior results compared to standard LASIK, I was
> hoping to get custom LASIK done. My eyes are about -7 with about 1.25 of
> astigmatism.
>
> After going to a LASIK place today for an evalutation, and being told that I
> have thick corneas (measured at 550) and small pupils, they said that with
> my high prescription, they'd recommend standard LASIK on the LADARVision
> laser because it takes off 30% less tissue, and I'd have plenty of cornea
> thickness left over for enhancements, if needed.
>
> I didn't want them to dilate my pupils today because I have to read at work,
> so they'll do that before surgery if I opt to do that, do the wavefront
> analysis and let me know if anything changes or if I wouldn't be a good
> candidate for the LADARVision. But they said so far the LADARVision is the
> best laser for me and they said they don't push the custom LASIK (they have
> three custom lasik lasers, so it's not a matter of them not having the
> technology) because it's not best for everyone. He also said, with my degree
> of myopia, on this laser they are able to get 97% of people seeing 20/20,
> and with an enhancement, virtually everyone sees 20/20 or better.
>
> Is that true that custom LASIK isn't always as good as standard LASIK? From
> what I've read, it seems like custom LASIK results are always better
> statistically than standard LASIK.
>

I would tend to agree with the avove eval. Custom cornea is better
for larger pupils, higher astigmatism, etc. Although you have 7
diopters of myopia, the other measurements are straight forward, and do
not require the more expensive treatment.

lasik5506

2006-07-28, 9:24 pm

I was -7.25 with +3 astimatism. My corneas were thinner than yours and
my pupils were/are bigger. I had Custom LASIK in May. I got different
opinions and elected the VISX instead of the LADARVision because I felt
more comfortable with it. I agree with the other two that I don't
understand the reasoning behind that clinic's recommendations for you.

My opinion is to get several opinions.