Technology

Summit Autonomous Laser with LADARVision®

The Doctors at the Eye Clinic of Texas are pleased and proud to provide Laser Vision Correction using the Summit Autonomous Laser with LADARVision.  This laser, with its high-speed LadarTracker eye tracking system, represents a tremendous advance in excimer laser technology. There are a number of features that make this a wonderful instrument for Laser Vision Correction.

 Eyes are constantly making small rapid movements that are beyond our ability to control. Movements during surgery can affect placement of the laser beam, which in turn can affect the precision of the final corneal surface and the quality of the final vision. The automated "LadarTracker", based on space tracking technology developed by NASA, sends out an infrared tracking beam 4000 times per second. It has a feedback system, which allows the laser to follow the eye as it moves and to deliver the laser treatment with greater accuracy. More accurate placement of the laser beam helps increase the final visual acuity.

Another important aspect of precision treatment is centration of the treatment over the pupil. Some of the older, traditional lasers depend for their centration on the patient looking up at a target light during treatment while the doctor works to keep the "target" light in the center of the pupil. The new LadarVision® laser takes a digital photo of your eye and stores it in its memory. This "centration" photo is taken with your pupil small. During the treatment itself, although your pupil is dilated, the computer "remembers" your small pupil position and automatically centers the laser treatment where it belongs, over your pupil. 

The high-speed automatic tracker is combined with a small "flying spot" laser beam. The older, traditional laser systems used fairly large diameter spots which were modified by diaphragms or slits which were opened or closed or moved in front of them. Many of their laser bursts were fired one on top of the other. Instead of firing beam after beam on the same parts of the cornea, the new Autonomous laser has a microscopic laser beam less than a millimeter wide. This tiny beam moves rapidly around the cornea in a computer-generated pattern of tiny dots. These tiny laser spots, when added together, result in a smoother and more regular surface for the treated eye and help maximize the chances for even better vision after LASIK.

Still another benefit of the new laser is its ability to spread the needed treatment over a broader area of the cornea. This may help reduce problems with distortion and glare at night.

We are committed to offering our patients the best technology available, and to work with them to achieve the best possible outcome after laser vision correction.

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