Laser Eye Surgery - Laser Comparison
Some providers claim that their lasers are better
than lasers used by other clinics.
The truth is that there is
no significant advancement in any one laser used
by the top 3 Laser Eye Surgery clinics in the UK. They all provide
similiar outcomes.
All 3 main Laser Eye Surgery providers use
lasers from different companies:
- Nidek (Optimax)
- Bausch & Lomb (Ultralase)
- VISX (Optical Express)
Manufacturers will always promote the
advantages of their lasers over competitors.
All 3 laser
manufacturers:
Use World Class
technology
Lasers' provide
similar outcomes
Are involved in
ongoing research to bring safer, more accurate lasers to
market
Optimax invests in 4 new Nidek lasers every
year and to date has not found significant advantages in changing
providers.
Compare all 3 lasers on allaboutvision.com, an independent source of
impartial information about vision and eye care. You will
find little difference between them.
Important facts to consider:
- Skill and experience of the surgeon operating the
laser is the most important factor.
- Wavefront technology is the most important
advancement in Laser Eye Surgery, and was made 4 years ago.
All lasers at Optimax are equipped with the latest Wavefront
software.
- Clinical studies on lasers are all over the internet from
institutions such as the US FDA (Food & Drug Administration).
However often these studies cannot be directly
comparable with each other, because of different research designs
and variables. Allaboutvision.com is completely impartial and
independent.
- Clinics may downplay other lasers in favour of their own, but a
registered doctor is very unlikely to use an inferior laser.
- Optimax has been at the forefront of technology since opening
in 1992 and has provided over 300,000 treatments since then.
Good to know:
- Eye Test equipment is the starting point of good Laser Eye
Surgery. You must get this right before going any further.
- Some Laser Eye Surgery providers use eye test equipment
made by Nidek, the same company we use for our lasers.
- Actually, the original patents for all refractive equipment was
owned and licensed by The Nidek Corporation, when laser surgery was
invented 25 years ago.
- Nidek is a trusted company, highly valued within the
Refractive Correction industry.
- Paul
Dougherty's view on the Nidek laser, a high profile
refractive surgeon in Hollywood:
"I have been fortunate
enough to treat a variety of high profile individuals such as
[actors, models, comedians and stars]. Despite the fact
that I have access to a number of refractive platforms including
the latest model Visx, my outcomes as well as those of a
published study validate the Nidek EC-5000 as my laser of
choice for most patients." Paul Dougherty MD
www.doughertylaservision.com
Independent Laser Comparison Studies
Study Conducted by Dougherty PJ, Bains HS, November
2008
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19044229
|
Technology
|
Nidek EC 5000
(Optimax)
|
VISX Star S4: Custom
Vue
(Other top
clinics)
|
|
Within +/- 0.50 of intended correction
|
89%
|
88%
|
|
Lost 2 or more lines of BCVA*
|
0%
|
0%
|
|
Conclusion
|
"There is no statistical difference in results
obtained between NIDEK Standard correction and VISX wavefront
correction."
|
* BCVA = Best Corrected Visual Acuity
290 Eyes treated, Prescription and Ages of subjects
matched, 3 months follow-up data recorded.
Study Conducted by M H Feltham, R Wolfe & F
Stapleton, September 2008
http://www.nature.com/eye/journal/v22/n9/abs/6702856a.html
|
Technology
|
Nidek EC 5000
(Optimax)
|
Bausch & Lomb Technolas
217
(Other top
clinics)
|
|
% of Patients achieving successful results
|
88%
|
78%
|
|
Conclusion
|
"Both
the Technolas and the Nidek EC 5000 excimer lasers achieve a
successful refractive outcome in the majority of
cases."
|
674 Eyes treated, Prescription, Gender and Age of subjects
matched.
Optimax Laser Facts
Optimax Lasers are
serviced every 6 weeks (manufacturer's recommendation is to service
the lasers every 3 months).
Optimax employ a team
of dedicated and specially trained Laser Engineers.
Optimax Nidek Lasers
are upgraded regularly ensuring the most current software and
technology.
Laser Comparison Table
Download this information in PDF
format.
| |
Feature |
Diagnostic Aberrometer
(calculates Wavefront treatment)
|
Laser Application |
Iris Identification Technology |
In-treatment pupil tracker |
Nidek: EC5000 CXIII
|
Optimax
|
Optical Path Difference (OPD) |
Slit Scanning and Rotation with additional 1.0mm spot beam
facility and Multipoint ablation |
Torsion Error Detection
(Pre-treatment adjustments based on
involuntary eye movements) |
Yes
(200 Hz) |
Nidek: Quest
|
Optimax (London, Leeds, Liverpool,
Manchester) |
Optical Path Difference (OPD) |
Slit Scanning and Rotation with additional 1.0mm spot beam
facility and Multipoint ablation |
Torsion Error Correction
(In-treatment adjustments based on
involuntary eye movements) |
Yes
(1000 Hz) |
VISX Star S4 IR
|
Other top clinics |
Wavescan |
Spot Scanning with flat-top beam up to 6.5 mm diameter. |
Iris Registration |
Yes
(60 Hz) |
Bausch and Lomb Technolas 217z Zyoptix
|
Other top clinics |
Orbscan |
Flying Spot technology using combined 1mm and 2mm beam
diameter. |
Advanced Control Eyetracking
(with advanced rotational tracking) |
Yes
(Video based 120 Hz) |