http://www.asklasikdocs.com/forum/main/3777.html
Dr. William Trattler inaccurately reported on his bulletin board that higher order aberrations are reduced from pre-op after custom surface ablation. When called on it, my post was deleted by Dr. William Trattler. Here is the post that he deleted.
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Dr. William Trattler said:
"Contrary to what some people have said on this forum, there are studies that have determined that higher order aberrations after custom surface ablation procedures is reduced compared to preop."
Bill replied:
Dr. Trattler,
TOTAL higher order aberrations most certainly DO INCREASE after custom LASIK and custom surface ablation compared to virgin eyes. Especially if you take the measurement at a large enough diameter. Taking the measurement at 6 mm is another one of the industry's dirty little tricks used to deceive patients. So is comparing custom to conventional instead of comparing custom to pre-op.
What if the patient's pupils dilate to 7 or 7.5 or 8 mm in dim light?
The "lastest algorithm" is ablating deeper in the periphery to account for the prolate shape of the cornea. There's nothing "custom" about that.
Too bad the "5 million" LASIK patients who were treated with lasers that were designed to treat flat surfaces weren't warned about this.
Dr. Trattler, you need to go back and re-read the article. It does not say that total higher order aberrations are reduced compared to pre-op. It says "spherical aberrations" increased by 1% in custom LASIK eyes, and decreased by 40% in custom surface ablation eyes (at what diameter)?
What the article doesn't say is how much the coma and other higher order aberrations increased!!! It also does not disclose the diameter of the wavefront measurements. Large pupil patients beware!!!
Dr. Trattler, please retract your statement that custom surface ablation reduces higher order aberrations from pre-op. Patients deserve the truth.