Will Vision & Laser Centers Vancouver
8100 NE Parkway Dr.
Ste 125
Vancouver, WA 98661
Call Toll-Free
1-877-542-EYES
Will Vision & Laser Centers Portland
4949 SW Meadows Rd
Suite 125
Portland, OR 97035
Toll Free: (877) 542-3937
Will Vision & Laser Centers Salem
2601 25th St SE
Suite 120
Salem, OR 97302
Toll Free (877) 542-3937
Compare Excimer Lasers
This table compares and contrasts the advantages and disadvantages of most currently available laser systems in the United States. Better features are highlighted in "green", less desirable in "yellow" and least desirable features in "red". | VISX Star S4 IR | WaveLight
Allegretto | Bausch and Lomb | LadarVision
4000/6000 | Nidek EC 5000 |
Customized Wavefront Treatments | Yes - Widest FDA
approval of any laser system worldwide | Limited | Limited | Limited | No |
Wavefront Resolution | Fourier algorithm
offers highest resolution of wavefront errror | Zernicke algorithm
interpolates and smoothes data artificially | Zernicke algorithm
interpolates and smoothes data artificially | Zernicke algorithm
interpolates and smoothes data artificially | Zernicke algorithm
interpolates and smoothes data artificially |
Active 3-D Eye Tracking | Yes | No - 2-D only | No - 2-D only | No - 2-D only | No - 2-D only |
Iris Registration | Yes - Centers and
aligns treatment independent of pupil center migration and eye cyclorotation | No - Manual marking
only - less accurate and subjective | No - Manual marking
only - less accurate and subjective | No - Manual marking
only - less accurate and subjective | No - Manual marking
only - less accurate and subjective |
Compensates for pupil migration during physiologic pupil
dilation | Yes - centers and
aligns treatment independent of pupil migration | No | No | No - Pharmacologic
pupil dilation required for tracking creates potential for centering error | No |
Requires peri-operative use of eye drops that impair healing | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Size of Laser Beam | Small and large spot
for rapid treatment and optimized to reduce thermal injury to tissue | Small spot only but
very high speed reduces tissue dehydration during laser photoablation | Small spot only -
slows treatment and allows for tissue dehydration during laser photoablation | Small spot only -
slows treatment and allows for tissue dehydration during laser photoablation | Scanning slit |
Thermal Damage to Cornea | Variable spot
scanning and variable rep rate reduces thermal effects | Higher speed and
excellent beam characteristics may reduce thermal load to tissue | High speed and small
spot can be prone to thermal and drying effects | High speed and small
Gaussian spot prone to thermal and drying effects | Scanning slit
creates heat that damages tissue |
Physician choice | Largest market share
in the US and growing rapidly (VISX invented laser vision correction) | Limited physician
acceptance to date | Limited physician
acceptance to date | Shrinking physician
acceptance and numerous post market complaints at FDA (see FDA MAUDE
database) 6000 is currently recalled by the FDA | Shrinking physician
acceptance due to aging platform |
Safety in conservation of corneal tissue | Conservative leaving
good residual for strength | Conservative leaving
good residual for strength | Aggressive system
that is often tissue "hungry" | Aggressive system
that is often tissue "hungry" for custom | Conservative leaving
good residual for strength |
Enhancement Rate | Low - Typically less
than 5% | Low - Typically less
than 5% | Insufficient Data
Available for Comparison | Many centers report
high rates of retreatments from overcorrection | Higher reported
rates due to aging platform |