**What is Contoura LASIK?**
Contoura LASIK, officially known as Contoura® Vision Topography-Guided LASIK, is an advanced type of LASIK surgery that incorporates detailed corneal mapping to enhance the precision of the procedure. This technology was introduced to the field of laser vision correction to address not only refractive errors (the need for glasses or contact lenses) but also corneal irregularities that can affect vision quality.

**Key Features of Contoura LASIK**
• **Detailed Corneal Mapping**: Contoura LASIK uses the WaveLight Topolyzer Vario Diagnostic Device (VARIO) to capture up to 22,000 data points on the cornea, creating a highly detailed map of its surface. This map reveals the cornea’s unique peaks and valleys, much like a fingerprint.
• **Personalized Vision Correction**: The detailed corneal map enables a more personalized laser procedure. By addressing the specific irregularities of each patient’s cornea, Contoura LASIK aims to provide greater precision in vision correction compared to traditional LASIK.

**How Does Contoura LASIK Work?**
Contoura LASIK operates on a sophisticated mechanism that uses detailed corneal mapping to customize treatment based on the unique characteristics of each patient’s eyes. Here’s an overview of how Contoura LASIK works:
• **Detailed Corneal Mapping**: The foundation of Contoura LASIK is its ability to create a highly detailed map of the cornea using the WaveLight Topolyzer Vario Diagnostic Device (VARIO). This device captures up to 22,000 data points on the cornea, revealing its unique topography—its peaks and valleys, like a fingerprint. This detailed mapping enables unprecedented precision in vision correction.
• **Personalized Vision Correction**: Using the detailed corneal map, Contoura LASIK customizes laser correction for each eye. Traditional LASIK procedures correct vision based on a glasses or contact lens prescription, which does not account for individual corneal irregularities. However, Contoura LASIK uses data from the corneal map to guide the WaveLight EX500 laser in reshaping the cornea. This process not only corrects refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism) but also addresses microscopic imperfections on the corneal surface.

**Enhanced Visual Outcomes**
By addressing both refractive errors and corneal irregularities, Contoura LASIK has the potential to provide superior visual outcomes compared to traditional LASIK. Patients may achieve sharper vision than what is possible with glasses or contact lenses. The procedure aims to enhance vision quality by correcting how light focuses on the retina.