There are many options to choose from when it comes to Lasik surgery. It's hard to wade through the various procedures that have evolved over the past decade with regard to refractive eye surgery.

One of the latest techniques is called Wavefront Lasik. But, what are the differences, and what are the pros and cons of Wavefront Lasik versus traditional Lasik surgery?

With Wavefront, a guided laser takes three dimensional measurements of how your eye focuses light rays and processes images, in order to guide the laser while it reshapes the lens. It picks up irregularities and corrects them precisely. Traditional Lasik uses a microkeratome knife, or a doctor-guided laser, to cute a flap on the cornea and reshape the eye lens.

What Are The Pros of Each?

Wavefront Lasik is in the press a lot these days. Indeed, it has a lot going for it: it not only is able to guide the laser precisely, but it provides a screening tool for the doctor that maps exactly where the aberration is to begin with.

It can provide some very precise, individualized correction that might not be the case with traditional Lasik, glasses or contact lenses. Additionally, Wavefront proponents claim that this technology reduces the risk of post-Lasik complications like glare, halos, and problems with night vision.

Traditional microkeratome or laser Lasik has been around and tested for a very long time, up to 30 years with the former, and almost 15 with the latter. This provides an extreme experience level in most highly regarded eye surgeons, and a lot of data from which to learn how to avoid mistakes. This preponderance of data can easily show the percentage of risks in correcting each type of problem with the eye. Additionally, traditional Lasik is often the highest degree necessary to correct ordinary and common vision problems like astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia.

What Are The Cons Of Each?

Wavefront can be very expensive, because it's newer than most procedures, and the equipment costs a lot to rent or purchase. These expenses are typically passed on to the consumer.