Our Technology
The primary aim of the Laservision Eye Clinic is to provide a state of the art facility to our patients using safe, proven and effective procedures. Our team of dedicated professionals are committed to the very best in laser refractive surgery.
The Laservision Difference
Laservision Eye Clinic matches its reputation for excellent service and care with the highest standard of equipment to deliver outstanding results. Laservision is the only LASIK clinic in New Zealand to offer the combination of the Allegretto Wavelight laser (fourth generation laser technology) and the Amadeus Microkeratome. When combined and used by our expert ophthalmologists, this equipment delivers exceptional precision, superior clinical results and the highest level of safety and comfort for the patient.
Allegretto Wavelight Laser - fourth generation technology, exclusive in New Zealand to Laservision
One of the keys to Laservision's success is its Allegretto Wavelight machine. Purchased in 2004 for $1 million dollars, it is the only one of its kind in the country and one of the first three in Australasia. Unlike older systems which are simply upgrades and add-ons to old technology, Wavelight represents an entirely new design and generation of laser refractive technology and features a number of significant advances.
The Allegretto Wavelight has a number of unique technological features that account for its increased safety, precision and outstanding clinical results:
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- The Allegretto’s operating speed is 400hz – at least four times faster than traditional laser machines.
- Its exceptionally rapid laser pulse means the procedure is completed in the shortest possible time without causing thermal damage. This enhances patient comfort and minimises dehydration of the cornea, thus creating more consistency and predictability.
- The Allegretto uses a 0.95mm diameter true Gausian beam spot that produces the smoothest possible surface after laser treatment.
- The Allegretto laser continually monitors the energy output with every pulse during surgery for consistency. The Laser energy is standardised at the start of the day and checked before each treatment.
- The Allegretto has a 400hz eye tracker with a 6mS latency, it uses predictive tracking thereby maintaining better accuracy during surgery, even with eye movement.
- The optical pathway is nitrogen purged to prevent ozone formation (which blocks the laser beam). Also having only 3 mirrors means a more consistent laser delivery.
- The Allegretto Wavelight has been designed as a fully integrated diagnostic and surgical concept in order to provide physician and patient the highest level of safety and reliability in refractive surgery.
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| Glasses, contact lenses and conventional laser refractive surgery correct so-called ‘lower order optical aberrations’: defocus (myopia and hyperopia) and astigmatism. An optical system such as the eye may have various higher order aberrations (spherical, coma, trefoil etc) that degrade the quality of the optical image and are not corrected by glasses and contact lenses. Wavelight’s Abberometer measures the total optical system - both lower and higher order aberrations. If significant aberrations are present this information is calculated into the laser ablation profile for a clearer and better quality image with individual customised treatment. Standard ablation profiles used by the Allegretto Wavelight have been calculated to minimise the amount of corneal tissue removed, and are optimised for spherical aberration. Standard Wavelight treatments offer improved quality and safety. |
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Wavelight’s Abberometer (A-Cat) measures higher order aberrations by taking multiple measurements from different positions on the central retina through a dilated pupil. Approximately one third of patients undergoing LASIK will have significant higher order aberrations that are calculated into the laser treatment. Wavelight’s excimer laser is the only one of its kind designed specifically for wavefront guided LASIK. It is not an ‘add on’. The laser procedure is carried out as a single treatment with no stopping and starting, which carries the risk of corneal drying or changing centration.
Wavelight is also the only system with topography-guided LASIK (T-Cat). Images are taken of the cornea showing the highs, lows and irregularities of shape. The Wavelight Laser then reshapes the cornea back to a normal curvature and corrects refractive errors at the same time. The result is a platform that delivers outstanding clinical performance.
For further information we recommend these sites:
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Amadeus Microkeratome - computer-controlled precision and exceptional results
Before laser treatment can proceed a very thin flap needs to be created in the cornea. Once this is done, and the corneal flap is gently folded back, laser treatment can commence.
The creation of the corneal flap is done by a microkeratome and is a vital part of the overall procedure. Laservision's Amadeus Microkeratome is 100% computer-controlled, not a hand-held oscillating blade like some older models of microkeratome used in New Zealand. The Swiss-made Amadeus microkeratome is the safest, most up-to-date and predictable of keratomes available, with a proven track record. It gives the surgeon complete control over settings with the highest safety profile possible and very even, consistent flaps - vital for a successful healing process and quality vision outcomes.
Blade-free technology has recently been developed which offers a new way of creating the corneal flap. Instead of a blade, a laser is used to create tiny bubbles under the cornea, which gradually join up to open the cornea. While this method may sound appealing, Laservision believes that this technology has not yet been proven to produce better results, especially when compared to the Amadeus microkeratome. Current blade-free procedures take longer and there have been reports of increased pain, slower recovery and delayed realisation of visual improvement. Given that the creation of the corneal flap is such a vital step in the overall LASIK procedure, it is important that you have a good understanding of this issue before making any decision. Our view, and the views of other experts on this matter is expanded upon here and we are more than happy to discuss this with you in person if you would like to know more.
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