Allegretto Wave Eye-Q Excimer Laser

In keeping with our ongoing commitment to remain at the forefront of vision correction, the Houston Ophthalmology Associates offers Wavafront Optimized LASIK treatment to their patietns on one of the newest and most technologically advanced laser system, the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q excimer laser.  Coupled with the Intralase Femtosecond laser or the Zeimer LDV Femtosecond laser  this offers the combination of exceptional  safety and accuracy of All Laser Bladefree LASIK.

ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q is the fastest excimer laser system available in the United States today. This advancement in vision correction technology offers patients increased speed, accuracy and safety.

The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q Excimer Laser is one of the newest generations of excimer laser technology and is the first system to receive concurrent approval for the treatment of both nearsightedness and farsightedness. The treatment profile for this laser was developed after intense study of individuals who have what is called “super vision,” or vision that is better than 20/20. The laser reshapes the cornea of your eye to mimic the pattern of eyes with “super vision” with unparalled customization. Due to the laser’s unique wavefront-optimized ablation algorithm, the system delivers superior clinical results and a maximum level of safety for our patients.

The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q Excimer Laser is a “WaveFront-optimized” system. WaveFront technology not only corrects a patient’s prescription, but aims to improve the “quality” of vision during daylight and prevent problems with night vision. The system also has a unique eye-tracking system which automatically adjusts to changes in pupil size and eye movement during treatment.

PERFECTPULSE TECHNOLOGY™

PerfectPulse Technology represents a new approach to laser vision correction. Smart energy control measures and adjusts energy levels in the laser pulse from creation to delivery. As a result, every laser pulse is completely controlled and accurate, achieving the most accurate level of correction possible.  The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q’s laser is a precisely controlled beam of energy, which translates to heat. To make sure that this beam never causes any sort of adverse heating effect on the cornea, ALLEGRETTO WAVE’s PerfectPulse Technology places the laser pulses in such a way that only every fifth pulse overlaps. Not only does this preclude unwanted heating effects, it is one of the ways that ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q achieves a rounder, more natural corneal surface than many other lasers used for vision correction.

• – Only 1 pulse in 5 is allowed to overlap
• – Optimizes temporal and spatial shot distribution
• – Additional pulses are sent to the periphery to compensate for energy loss
• – Reduces the potential for nighttime glare and halos

SMART ENERGY CONTROL

The amount of energy in the laser has been calibrated to exactly the right level. After the beam has been created, it passes through three checkpoints on its way to your eye. At each of these points, the energy level is checked and adjusted if necessary, ensuring that the beam is perfectly attuned at its destination.

EYE TRACKING TECHNOLOGY

Due to the remarkable speed of both the eye and the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q procedure, the laser beam needs to be constantly and minutely adjusted to the position of the eye at any given time. Every 4-6 milliseconds, the eye’s location is measured and the internal mirrors of theALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q are automatically aligned. Right before the pulse is released, a second check is made to confirm that the eye has not moved. This happens 400 times every second, once for every laser pulse released. If, at any time, the eye moves too quickly to be measured or moves out of range, the laser will stop and wait for the eye to move back into position.

SPEED

The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q is one of the fastest vision correction lasers available in the United States. At 400 treatment pulses per second, it only takes approximately four seconds of treatment to correct one diopter. Of course, spending less time under the laser means less stress and discomfort for the patient.

WAVEFRONT TECHNOLOGY

One of the most innovative features of the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q is its use of wavefront-optimized technology to automatically compensate for the curvature of the cornea. In earlier laser correction systems, the “optical zone,” or area of correction, was centered on the front of the cornea; the result was a flattened circular area that ended with an abrupt edge, causing unwanted side effects like poor night vision, glare, and halos. The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q changes all that. The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q uses a proprietary treatment that is adjusted to the patient’s individual corneal curvature. The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q sends extra pulses to the peripheral cornea area in order to compensate for the angle of the laser. In this manner, the spherical shape of the cornea is preserved to a degree that older lasers simply could not achieve. This compensation, combined with the incredibly small, 1mm size of the laser, produces a smooth, effective optical zone that results in what can only be described as high performance vision.

HIGH PERFORMANCE VISION- BETTER NIGHT VISION AND GLARE CONTROL

Large Optical Zones

At night and in dark conditions, the pupil becomes larger to permit the maximum amount of light to enter the eye.  If the optical zone is smaller than the size of the pupil at its largest, there is a good chance that the patient will experience poor night vision or problems with glare and halos around bright objects such as oncoming headlights.  The optical zone refers to the portion of the cornea that has been corrected by the laser. A larger than normal optical zone is especially important for night vision, and for patients with very large pupils. Laser eye correction needs to take this fact into account.

The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q is capable of producing some of the largest available optical zones,  virtually eliminating glare and night vision problems associated with older generation lasers. In the past, this has been one of the biggest drawbacks to conventional laser correction surgery.

CLINICAL RESULTS

When it was approved in 2006 as the first new laser in five years, the FDA granted ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q the widest approval range ever initially given to a new laser for both myopic and hyperopic vision correction. Since then, the results have been astoundingly positive. ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q has been proven to provide superior clinical results, as shown by the following statistics:

• –  At one year after treatment, more than 93% of patients said they saw at least as well or better than they had with glasses or contacts before treatment.
• –  More than 98% of patients achieved 20/40 vision one year after treatment; 20/40 is the level of visual acuity required to pass most driving tests.
• –  Nearly 60% of near-sighted patients achieved 20/16 vision after one year of treatment.
• –  Both near- and far-sighted patients reported an improvement in their reaction to bright lights and night driving glare after ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q treatments. In addition, near-sighted patients reported an improvement in sensitivity to light.
• –  Predictable results are the norm for the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q. More than 90% of patients achieve refraction within 1 diopter of their target correction.
• –  The ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q has a total re-treatment rate of less than 5% of patients.

IS THE ALLEGRETTO WAVE® EYE-Q RIGHT FOR ME?

ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q expands the boundaries of candidacy for LASIK. However, there are certain people who are less than ideal candidates for LASIK and ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q. These patients are encouraged to speak with their doctor to find the best vision correction option:

• Under age 21
• Pregnant or nursing
• Glaucoma or high blood pressure
• Keratoconus, a corneal irregularity
• Inflammation of the eye (uveitis, blepharitis, or iritis)
• Herpes simplex that has infected your eye
• Previous severe injuries to the eye
• Corneal scars or infections
• Unstable refraction
• Other diseases of the eye such as macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, or others
• Patients with very large pupils, thin corneas, or dry eyes
• During the consultation with your doctor, please be sure to mention all medications you are taking and any medical conditions you have that might affect the success of laser correction.

Find out if the ALLEGRETTO WAVE® Eye-Q laser is right for you. Email or call Houston Ophthalmoogy Associates at 281-420-EYES (3937) and find out why thousands of people in Houston trust their vision to us. For a list of FDA approved lasers go to: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/lasers.htm

If you are interested in laser vision correction call us at 281-420-EYES (3937) to set up for a FREE LASIK CONSULTATION or Schedule Online.