One of the most popular excimer laser system in use around the world is the AMO VISX Star S4 with Wavescan wavefront custom LASIK. This is currently the most popular LASIK system in the USA and the most popular LASIK system in the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Walnut Creek.
The VISX Star S4 is typical of most LASIK systems in that it uses a 193 nm wavelength laser to treat the cornea and reshape it to the desired refractive correction needed for good vision. VISX Star S4 is an excimer laser that is FDA approved for wavefront treatment of myopic (near-sighted) prescriptions of up to -11.00 D with astigmatism of up to -3.00 D and for hyperopic (far-sighted) prescriptions of up to +3.00 D with up to +2.00 D of astigmatism.
The AMO VISX STAR S4 platform is categorized as a variable spot scanning excimer laser with a beam that varies in size from 0.65 mm up to 6.5 mm over the treatment area. The variable size of the beam allows for shorter treatment times and more conservation of tissue. The VISX STAR S4 also boasts a variable repetition rate to allow for optimization of treatment times.
A standard LASIK prescription is generally treated in about 30 seconds. The rapid treatment time by the VISX Star S4 excimer laser platform improves treatment results by allowing the LASIK surgeon to have less time where the flap is open or less time during mid-treatment.
Similar to other LASIK systems, the VISX Star S4 has an active eye tracking system, known as the ActiveTrak 3-D Active Eye Tracking System. This eye tracking system is marketed as capturing all 3 dimensions of intra-operative eye movements with no dilation required. The VISX Star S4 also utilizes ActiveTrak Automatic Centering. This capability locates and then automatically sets the treatment center to the center of the pupil.
Most impressive of the VISX Star S4 LASIK system is the Iris Registration (IR) capability that it has available. There are many measurements of the optics of the eye that are particularly sensitive to orientation of the eye during surgery. Astigmatism, trefoil, coma, and other higher order aberrations require an accurate alignment with the original measurements taken in order to provide an accurate treatment. The eye is known to slightly rotate once the patient has changed from a vertical sitting position (where the measurements were taken) to a horizontal position (where the surgery is performed). This eye rotation was not adequately adapted for prior to the VISX iris registration.
The VISX Star S4 is the first Iris registration system available and the first FDA approved, fully automated, non-contact method of alignment of the correct CustomVue treatment to the corneal site. In the San Francisco Bay Area there are a limited number of LASIK clinics that provide iris registration. This upgrade is extremely important as it provides a solid means of providing the most accurate treatment available.
The VISX Star S4 CustomVue procedure tailors a distinct correction for each individual – in fact each treatment is “designed†by the unique characteristics of the individuals’ eyes. WaveScan technology captures unique imperfections in each individual’s vision that could not have been measured before. This new level of measurement provides 25-times more precision than measurements using standard methods for glasses and contact lenses. WaveScan technology produces a detailed map of the eye – much like a fingerprint, no two are alike and translates this information into a set of CustomVue treatment instructions for the laser. WaveScan transfers these digital treatment instructions to the laser, providing a new level of precision and accuracy.
Clinical Study Results
VISX’s FDA clinical study results were remarkable. Among other things:
- At one year after the VISX CustomVue procedure;
- 100% of the clinical study participants could pass a driving test without glasses or contacts
- 98% of the clinical study participants could see 20/20 or better without glasses or contacts
- 70% of the clinical study participants could see 20/16 or better without glasses or contacts
Four times as many clinical study participants were very satisfied with their night vision after the VISX CustomVue procedure, compared to their night vision before with glasses or contacts.
For patients in San Francisco, San Jose, and other Bay area locations (such as Oakland and Walnut Creek), the AMO VISX Star S4 provides an advanced laser platform that offers accuracy and reliability. If you are interested in an examination to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK laser vision correction surgery, contact our LASIK counselors and schedule an examination. We have four locations in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Leandro, San Jose, Concord, and San Francisco.