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Principles of wavefront technology explained
MADRID, Spain — Wavefront technology allows surgeons to assess the total refractive function and quality of vision of their patients, according to Joe Wakil, of Tracey Technologies. He explained the basics of wavefront analysis in a presentation here at the Congress of the European Society of Ophthalmology.
Dr. Wakil said wavefront analysis, which is based on aberrometry, is an extension of the principles of corneal topography.
“The challenge of refractive surgery is quality of vision, not just achieving 20/20,” he said.
To that end, the Tracey Visual Function Analyzer is designed to measure errors that conventional refraction cannot address, he said.
Dr. Wakil explained that the Tracey system is based on ray tracing. A thin beam of light is projected through the entrance pupil. The beam is reflected from each point on the retina, and the returning beam’s aberrations are measured.
The device uses this information to calculate a simulation of the optics in the patient’s eye. Surgeons can use wavefront analysis to assess the contrast sensitivity and visual quality of patients before and after refractive surgery, Mr. Wakil said.