Wavefront-guided ablation: evidence for efficacy compared to traditional ablation

Abstract

Purpose: To provide an evidence-based overview of wavefront-guided refractive surgery outcomes, benefits, and limitations.

Design: Literature review.

Methods: Review of FDA study reports and indexed, peer-reviewed literature.

Results: More than 400 reports investigating wavefront applications in refractive surgery exist, but studies comparing the outcomes of wavefront-guided treatment with conventional treatment are few in number. Available studies do not overwhelmingly demonstrate superior visual results attributable to a wavefront-guided approach.

Conclusions: While wavefront-guided refractive surgery provides excellent results, evidence is limited that it outperforms conventional laser in situ keratomileusis that incorporates broad ablation zones, smoothing to the periphery, eye-trackers, and other technological refinements. However, it is evident that wavefront-customized ablation holds a promising future and merits ongoing investigation.