FDA clinical trail study of the wavefront-guided laser indicates higher probability of a good outcome over conventional Lasik.

Los Angeles, CA — (SBWIRE) — 06/01/2006 — Results of the Alcon FDA Custom Cornea wavefront based LASIK clinical trial for farsighted astigmatism show that wavefront-based LASIK provides better results in terms of uncorrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity and reduced the induction of higher order aberrations compared to conventional LASIK with the Alcon system.

The study was presented in March at the meeting of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons in San Francisco by James Salz, MD.

“Just as in Alcon wavefront based CustomCornea LASIK for nearsightedness, the results in the farsighted eyes showed superior outcomes,” stated Dr. Salz. “A higher percentage of patients achieved uncorrected vision of 20/20 and 20/40. Visual quality was improved as evidenced by better contrast sensitivity and less increase in higher order aberrations when compared to conventional LASIK.”

LASIK is a popular form of laser eye surgery uses a combination of automated lamellar keratoplasty (ALK) using a microkeratome (FDA approved) to create a “flap” and the excimer laser (FDA approved) to reshape the cornea (“zap”). LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye procedure worldwide.

Laser eye surgery was first approved by the FDA in
1996 and the procedure has undergone multiple refinements since the original approval including flap creation with a laser instead of a blade and customized wavefront based treatments which improve the chances of obtaining 20/20 vision or better and provide better quality vision with a lower probability of any side effects.