How Do Surgeons Map the Eye Before LASIK?
Your surgeon needs to know everything about your eyes before performing LASIK surgery. LASIK is a precise procedure, so the planning process has to be precise too. During your LASIK consultation, your eye surgeon will take several scans and measurements of your eyes. This process is called “eye mapping.” Eye mapping helps us understand the shape and thickness of your corneas before recommending treatment. The goal is to create a plan that fits your unique eyes.
These are some of the ways we’ll map your eyes before your LASIK procedure:
Corneal Mapping
Corneal mapping is one of the most important parts of LASIK testing. Your cornea is the clear front part of your eye that helps focus light. It’s the area the laser reshapes during your surgery. During this test, we use advanced imaging technology to create a detailed map of your cornea. This map will show us the curves, steep areas, flat areas, and overall shape of your corneal surface. It’s like a topographic map, but instead of showing hills and valleys on land, it shows the tiny, unique details of your corneas. Corneal mapping helps your eye doctor look for problems that aren’t obvious during a basic vision test. Here are just a few of the things we look for:
- Irregular corneal curves
- Areas where the cornea is too steep
- The cornea is too flat
- Irregular astigmatism
- Corneal thinning, weak spots in the cornea
- Asymmetry between your eyes
- Scarring or other surface irregularities
- Any signs that PRK or another refractive surgery might be safer than LASIK
Pachymetry: Measuring Corneal Thickness Before Your LASIK Procedure
We also need to measure your corneal thickness before surgery. LASIK works by reshaping your corneas with a laser. This laser removes some of the corneal tissue, so we need to make sure your corneas are thick enough for the procedure. If your corneas aren’t thick enough to undergo LASIK eye surgery, your ophthalmologist may recommend another option. Some patients’ eyes are better candidates for a surgery called PRK because the procedure doesn’t involve creating a corneal flap.
Refraction Testing to Confirm Your Prescription
This is the most familiar part of the eye examination for most patients. It’s the test where we’ll ask which lens looks clearer to fine-tune your prescription. This test checks your refractive error, nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. We know you already have a prescription, but we need to confirm it. LASIK planning depends on accurate measurements. If your prescription is unstable or the numbers don’t match across tests, we may recommend delaying surgery and doing more testing before moving forward.
Wavefront Testing to See How Light Moves Through Your Eyes
At Columbus Laser & Cataract Center, we use WaveLight Plus technology by Alcon to study how light travels through your eye. These wavefront measurements can detect small issues that a regular glasses prescription might not fully capture. For example, with WaveLight Plus, we can detect small visual imperfections that may cause glares, halos, starbursts, and poor night vision. This technology, similar to iDesign Refractive, helps us create a more detailed LASIK surgery plan for you.
We Measure Pupil Size and Your Eye’s Optical Surface
Your pupils naturally get larger when it’s dim and smaller when it’s bright out. If your pupils are especially large when it’s dim, we may pause to consider how that could affect your night vision after LASIK eye surgery. We’ll look closely at your eye’s optical surface too. A smooth, healthy surface is ideal. If the surface is irritated, dry, or uneven, it can affect the accuracy of our scans and your healing after surgery.
Tear Film Testing
Dry eye testing is another important part of the eye examination before LASIK. Your tear films coat the front of your eyes and help keep your corneal surface smooth. If this film is unstable, your vision can blur or fluctuate throughout the day. We’re interested in your tear film because LASIK can temporarily make your eyes even drier. Before your surgery, your doctor may check tear production, tear quality, eyelid health, and look for signs of inflammation. If you know you have dry eye, your surgeon may want to treat it before recommending LASIK. This involves artificial tears, prescription drops, lid care, or other treatments depending on what’s causing the dryness.
A Complete Eye Examination Before LASIK Surgery
Your surgeon will also conduct a full eye examination before your LASIK procedure to look beyond your corneas and prescription. We need to check the overall health of your eyes. This may include:
- Checking eye pressure
- Examining your lens and retinas
- Reviewing your medical and vision history
This thorough screening helps us rule out conditions that could affect your safety and vision results. Some patients may not be good candidates for LASIK, and that’s okay! You may be better suited for a different surgery like PRK.
We never want to rush our patients into surgery. We conduct thorough exams to determine the best option for your eyes.
Contact Columbus Laser & Cataract Center Today
Eye mapping is one of the most important parts of your initial evaluation for LASIK eye surgery. We study the shape of your corneas, your corneal thickness, the way light moves through your eyes, your prescription, your pupils, tear films, and overall eye health to determine whether LASIK is right for you. Everyone’s eyes are different. Eye mapping helps us create a detailed plan for your LASIK procedure.
Are you considering LASIK eye surgery in Columbus, Ohio? Call Columbus Laser & Cataract Center today to schedule a LASIK consultation at our office in Westerville. Our team will walk you through the ocular testing process, answer your questions, and help you understand all of your options.