Advanced three dimensional eye tracking systems, based on military missile tracking technology, now allow the laser to follow your eye during LASIK laser vision correction eye surgery — even if you move your eye!
“What happens if I move my eye during LASIK laser eye surgery?”
A patient from Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County asked me this question last week and I think it reflects a fear many patients have about undergoing LASIK — a fear that they might somehow cause a problem if they don’t hold perfectly still during surgery.
It turns out, reassuringly, the answer is that with today’s technology, nothing will happen if you move your eye during LASIK! The newest excimer laser systems have advanced eye tracking technology based on military missile tracking technology. With this eye tracking technology, the laser is able to keep up with the fastest and most minute movements your eye might make during surgery. Because the laser is following the eye’s movements, every laser pulse goes exactly where it is supposed to, even if you move your eye or have trouble looking straight ahead. In fact, every patient moves their eye to some degree during laser eye surgery — either from involuntary eye movements or even from breathing and transmitted pulses of blood coursing throughout the body’s circulatory system. The latest tracking systems actually can track the fastest and most delicate eye movements in three dimensions!
Three dimensional eye tracking systems for LASIK are an important safety feature. Before eye tracking systems were developed, it was possible to have the laser pattern applied incorrectly onto the eye based on involuntary eye movements. Now, patients can feel relaxed during LASIK laser vision correction knowing that the laser system easily can follow the eye through any movements the patient makes.
See Also
Improvement in Photorefractive Corneal Laser Surgery Results Using an Active Eye-Tracking System
This study confirms the benefits of using eye tracking during LASIK or PRK laser vision correction surgery
Determining the Accuracy of an Eye Tracking System for Laser Refractive Surgery
This study also confirms the benefits of eye tracking during laser vision correction surgery.
Reducing Side Effects with Custom LASIK
This blog site discusses how eye tracking benefits surgical results using customized wavefront LASIK
LASIK Concerns and Eye Tracking Technology
This blog discusses how reassuring eye tracking is to patients undergoing LASIK laser eye surgery.
AMO-VISX Active Track for VISX S4 IR Excimer Laser System
This site discusses the advanced three dimensional Active Track eye tracking system developed by AMO VISX for the S4 IR excimer laser system.