Topography-guided ablation is a customised laser treatment that uses detailed corneal surface maps to guide tissue removal. It aims to regularise irregular corneas and improve quality of vision as well as prescription.
How It Works
Multiple corneal topography scans capture localised steep and flat areas, higher-order aberrations, and irregularities. Special planning software designs an ablation pattern that both corrects refractive error and smooths the surface.
- Useful in eyes with corneal scars, decentered ablations, or asymmetric shapes
- Requires high-quality, reproducible data before treatment
- Often combined with cross-linking in selected keratoconus cases
- Can reduce glare, halos, and night-vision problems in some patients
Clinical Use
Topography-guided treatments are most beneficial when surface irregularity significantly affects vision. Not every refractive patient needs this level of customisation.
- Screening ensures corneal stability and absence of progressive ectasia
- Outcomes depend heavily on data accuracy and surgical planning
- Recovery is similar to the underlying technique (LASIK or PRK)
- Follow-up assesses both visual acuity and subjective quality of vision
