STAR S4 IR Laser Technology

AMO is one of the leaders in the field of laser vision correction. The Star S4 laser is often referred to by it’s original name: VISX.

Since receiving FDA approval in 1999 the Star laser is the most commonly used laser in the US, with roughly 57% of LASIK done on it. It has two available treatment modes that are detailed below: CustomVue and conventional.

CustomVue (Wavefront Guided) treatments offer many benefits over a conventional treatment for many patients.

Laser Eye Institute was an early adapter of this technology and was the first in Michigan to offer CustomVue with Iris Registration (IR). Dr. Haddad has performed more CustomVue LASIK procedures than any other surgeon in Michigan.

CustomVue (Wavefront Guided) LASIK

CustomVue is the brand name used to designate a wavefront guided treatment. While most lasers correct lower order aberrations (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) CustomVue is the only FDA approved treatment that also corrects higher order aberrations. Correcting these higher order aberrations allow us to achieve reliable results that were not possible with other laser technology.

A key component of the CustomVue technology is the Wavescan. This device, known as an aberrometer uses advanced sensor technology to create a wavefront map of your optics. This sensor technology was originally developed for the Hubble space telescope and is used to map the amount of higher order aberrations.

Confused? You’re not the only one! Vision errors are caused by two sources: lower order aberrations and higher order aberrations. Most people are familiar with lower order aberrations like farsightedness (hyperopia) nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism. This is only half the story.

In additional to lower order aberrations some patients also have a significant amount of higher order aberrations. These have unfamiliar terms such as coma, spherical aberration and trefoil. These are the culprit for poor vision at night, glare and halos.

The STAR laser is the only device approved to treat both the lower as well as higher order aberrations.

Iris Registration

STAR S4 includes a technology called Iris Registration that further increases the safety and accuracy of the treatment by offering three key benefits.

Is CustomVue Right For Me?

Not all patients will benefit from wavefront guided LASIK. Some patients may have better results instead from a wavefront optimized treatment. At Laser Eye Institute we have both the VISX Star laser which is the only laser to offer wavefront guided treatment, and the Zeiss MEL80 the best wavefront optimized laser available.

Since the introduction of the Zeiss refractive platform, Laser Eye Institute is proud to be the only vision correction center in Michigan and one of a handful in the country to offer both wavefront guided and wavefront optimized treatments.

Zeiss VisuMax Laser Technology

The VisuMax is a revolutionary femtosecond laser. The femtosecond class of lasers are used for flap creation (as opposed to a blade system, IntraLase, or iFS).Using a femtosecond laser for flap creation, paired with an excimer laser for treatment is referred to as all-laser-LASIK or blade-free-LASIK.

Femtosecond laser flaps are created by using small pulses across the eye slightly below the surface. Once the laser has passed every spot the surgeon is able to lift the flap up and treat the eye. The only object that touches the patient is called a dock this device ensures the eye stays put during treatment.

Laser Eye Institute had the first VisuMax in Michigan in 2014.

Zeiss MEL80 Laser Technology

The 8th generation MEL80 is the most recent LASIK laser to become available in the US. Zeiss has been building optics, cameras, and lenses since 1846. Their expertise in optics (which other lasers use) result in an extremely precise and accurate laser, especially in patients with higher corrections

This laser uses a newer technology to reduce the beam size. By utilizing a smaller beam size they are able to be applied more accurately enabling extremely precise treatments.

The MEL80 has the largest approved range of treatments. This enables patients who may not have been a candidate for LASIK to now have the procedure.

By offering both VISX and ZEISS laser technology we are able to match you to the laser treatment that will result in the best vision possible.

We were proud to the be the first in Michigan to offer this laser technology is 2014.