Zyoptix: The New and Improved Custom LASIK Procedure Submitted by Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center on June 21, 2018
Laser eye surgery has revolutionized eye care, freeing millions from the need to wear glasses or contacts. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, better known as LASIK, achieves the same level of vision correction provided by corrective lenses. As anyone who has worn glasses or contacts knows, this level of correction may not be suitable for every situation. In addition, there are vision issues that make conventional LASIK unsuitable for some people.
The next level in laser-assisted eye surgery is here. Zyoptix goes one step beyond LASIK, providing treatment that’s much more personalized and more versatile, treating a wider range of conditions than other laser eye surgeries. Though based on a technique similar to LASIK, Zyoptix represents a refinement that, for some people, offers a much higher level of vision correction.
Low and high-order aberrations
LASIK is well-suited for low-order vision aberrations, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The changes needed to your eyes to correct these issues are comparatively minor. These issues affect how much you see, but they don’t address how well you see it. You may be able to distinguish letters on an eye chart, for example, but the edges may not appear sharp. Your vision may be 20/20, but without sharp, crisp resolution.
High-order aberrations are more complex issues that create disturbances that upset resolution. Examples of these issues are increased glare, halos around light sources, and loss of the ability to distinguish contrast. If you experience problems with glare while driving at night, for instance, high-order aberrations may be to blame. Conventional LASIK surgery itself can introduce high-order aberrations.
The basis of treatment
Both LASIK and Zyoptix use a very similar technique to refocus your eye by changing the shape of your cornea so it bends light to focus it on the optic cells at the back of your eye. A small flap is made in the outer surface of your eye to expose the cornea, and a computer-controlled laser reshapes the cornea based on your vision issues.
When the reshaping is finished, the flap is placed back over the cornea, where it heals naturally without stitches. Each eye takes about 10 minutes of treatment, and both can be done in a single session.
The Zyoptix difference
What sets the Zyoptix procedure apart from LASIK is the dual diagnostic system that Zyoptix uses. The first stage evaluates your low-order corrective need in much the same way as with LASIK. The second stage goes beyond the topography of your eye used by LASIK and maps out the high-order aberrations for laser correction. Instead of stopping where Lasik does, Zyoptix goes beyond and truly customizes laser vision correction to match your needs.
Zyoptix eligibility
Some people are unsuited for the conventional LASIK procedure, including those whose high-order aberrations would be worsened by the surgery. Others are people with poor night vision or with large pupils. People with thin corneas are also not suited for LASIK due to the risk of removing too much corneal tissue. Zyoptix works to a higher level of precision, so that even those with thin corneas can have the surgery without fear.
Finally, people with strong vision correction prescriptions are sometimes beyond the ability of LASIK correction. Some of these individuals can now be treated with an aspherical Zyoptix process that provides a greater range of optic correction.
The first step in learning more about your suitability for Zyoptix surgery is to call or click Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center to request a custom vision assessment. Clear sight could be coming into focus for you.