The Wavelight Allegretto Wave System

Wavefront-guided LASIK is the latest LASIK surgery, which uses sophisticated equipment to correct refractive errors of the eye. Compared to the standard or traditional LASIK using a blade or microkeratome, the Wavefront-guided LASIK is preferred by surgeons as well as the patients due to its high success rate and comparatively lesser side effects.

Here, a laser microkeratome or Femtosecond laser is used instead of the traditional mechanical microkeratome or blade and then a special Excimer laser is used to remove tissues necessary for the surgery. The refractive errors are measured using devices called as Wavefront Analyzers or Aberrometers.

What is The Wavelight Allegretto Wave System?

The Wavelight Allegretto Wave System is the new technical innovation to optimize laser surgery giving light to Wavefront optimized and Wavefront-guided LASIK surgery. It uses a very small laser to reshape the cornea and with the help of an eye tracker it makes sure the laser pulses hit the correct position of the eye. The eye tracker works by tracking the eye movement and interrupts the surgery if the eye is moving too much.

Wavefront Allegretto Wave System LASIK surgery is a permanent operation to the cornea and cannot be reversed, so proper counseling and visits to one or more eye care professionals should be done like any other LASIK surgery.

The treatment does correct refractive errors but some patients cannot completely eliminate the use of eyeglasses, which they might need for reading even if no glasses were used before the surgery. Like other LASIK surgeries, the vision should be stable for one year and should not have a collagen vascular disease or autoimmune disease or have a condition that makes wound healing difficult.

After the surgery, there may be some discomfort that can be fixed by proper counseling and frequent visits to the doctor. Even with all the setbacks, Wavelight Allegretto Wave System has more advantages over the other surgeries such as PRK, RK and traditional LASIK surgeries with better results and more patients being candidates who are not suited for the other surgeries.

Who needs them?

Patients with refractive errors up to -7.00 Diopters of nearsightedness with or without astigmatism of up to 3.00 Diopters can be candidates for LASIK surgery with the Wavelight Allegretto Wave System.

Special features

Some of the features that stand out in The Wavelight Allegretto Wave System are:

• Smart Energy Control checks each laser pulse before it is delivered to the cornea.
• Fast Eye-Tracking uses three infrared sources to follow the eye movements that can react even if the eye shifts a fraction of a millimeter.
• Wavefront Optimization determines each individual’s cornea shape and maintains its shape following the surgery.
• Non-Overlapping Pulses monitored by the internal computers help in reducing any heat to occur in the eye.
• Integrated Crossline Projector helps to provide the exact alignment of the head and eye position of the patient, which is very useful in centration.
• Gaussian Beam Profile ensures a smooth removal of corneal tissue without grooves or ridges.
• Considerations of the unique curvature of each eye, which can greatly reduce spherical distortion that may cause glare and affect night vision.

Authored By Dr. Lalit Kumar