New lens designs using wavefront technology

Traditional eye exams that take use of letters and images are quite limited, subjective and sometimes inaccurate, because the result is based on the patient’s response. These traditional eye exams also can not reflect underlying vision problems. In contrast, wavefront measurement using an instrument can attain more data about vision errors automatically. By mapping the way light rays travel through your retina, wavefront diagnosis detects underlying refractive errors on your retina and lens.

Wavefront lenses and LASIK

Wavefront technology improves the design of common corrective eyeglasses for myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism as well as high-order aberrations. Before the introduction of wavefront analysis, higher-order aberrations are obscure. Wavefront makes these lenses more precisely alter the way light rays enter the wearer’s eyes, creating sharper vision. As one type of high-definition eyeglass lenses, wavefront lenses are able to correct higher-order aberrations which are essential to sharper vision. In general, these unusual aberrations are uncorrectable by conventional eyeglass lenses. In addition, wavefront lenses also help drivers reduce nighttime glare.

LASIK is also taking full use of the wavefront technology, resulting in wavefront-guided or optimized procedure, which can more precisely remove tissues from the retina. During a wavefront LASIK surgery, three dimensional measurements will be made to know how the eye processes images, which will guide the laser in reshaping the cornea. In detail, wavefront technology can help measure the eye’s ability to focus light, and work out clearly its irregularities in processing images. A traditional LASIK surgery can not achieve precisely individual correction outcomes, which have been made a reality by wavefront LASIK. Together with wavefront eyeglass lenses, wavefront or custom LASIK further conquers other unusual irregularities of the eye’s optical system, except for ordinary conditions like myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Lenses out of wavefront technology

Since late 2005, new lens designs based on wavefront technology have been available to customers. These new lens designs even incorporate digitalized corrections on both sides of the lenses. Wavefront lenses are estimated to be 25% to 30% more expensive than their counterparts made of conventional lenses. Currently, there are some wavefront lens products from different brands, such as iZon from Ophthonix Corp. and Varilux Physio from Essilor of American. While claiming their own advantages, these lenses commonly improve lens clarity and reduce distortions.

Ophthonix manufactures wavefront lenses based on individualized wavefront measurements. The Ophthonix Z-View aberrometer takes wavefront measurements of your eyes and then individual lenses can be made. iZon lenses use high-index materials and scratch-resistant and anti-reflective coatings. iZon lenses create more extra vision improvement for people with a significant degree of aberration that is beyond conventional lenses. Now iZon lenses have covered multifocal and progressive types.

Also using wavefront analysis, other new design lenses include Varilux Ellipse from Essilor, Zeiss GT2 from Carl Zeiss Vision, Creation and Autograph from Shamir Insight and so on. These lenses require no individual wavefront measurements. Take Essilor’s products as an example, Varilux Physio progressive lenses offer a much smoother transition between near, intermediate and distance zones. The company also claims that its lenses are incorporated with more contrast sensitivity, which is very helpful for those with low vision. HOYA Lens of America provides wavefront lens designs that can adjust for eye movement to prevent visual distortions. There are still some companies that are conducting new wavefront lens researches.

People with 20/20 vision may also experience vision distortions caused by vision defects. Wavefront lenses may be more attractive to individuals with vision defects that are beyond current refractive lenses. iZon lenses are particularly helpful for those who need sharper night vision, which is critical for night driving. iZon lenses are also proved to be more effective in dealing with LASIK complications.