tive error. The system measures a patient's refractive power intraop-
eratively to confirm or revise the surgeon's IOL power choice or per-
fect your arcuate corneal incisions (when appropriate), enhancing
overall accuracy.
Digital marking systems work a little differently. During standard
pre-op biometry measurements, these systems create a high-resolu-
tion, digital reference image of the eye. After determining the optimal
IOL and/or incision placement, the system overlays a digital "map" in
the surgeon's microscope, or helps guide the femtosecond laser.
While both systems can be helpful, mainly in astigmatism cases,
research on the effects is still limited. Instead, just as with laser sur-
gery, the decision to add these technologies often comes down to
patient and surgeon demand. If your docs offer patients the choice of
new technology for enhanced refractive outcomes at one center vs. a
standard procedure at yours, they'll likely want the perceived "best"
option even if it comes at a higher price. Patients say it all the time: I
only have one set of eyes. They may not know what it means when
their surgeon says "intraoperative wavefront aberrometry," but they
definitely understand when he adds, "This will improve your vision."
OSM
6 3
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5 | O U T P A T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
Dr. Slonim (cslonim@health.usf.edu) is a board-certified ophthalmologist in Tampa, Fla.,
adjunct professor of ophthalmology at the University of South Florida College of Medicine and clinical
associate professor of ophthalmology at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. He
is also the former president of the Florida Society of Ophthalmology.
