If you’re considering the newest generation of LASIK, one of the first questions you may have is: is WaveLight Plus InnovEyes safe?
WaveLight Plus builds on well-established LASIK techniques, combining them with advanced 3D eye mapping and personalised treatment planning. While no laser eye procedure is completely without risk, these technologies are designed to give the surgeon a more detailed understanding of each eye before treatment.
Developed by Alcon, WaveLight Plus InnovEyes uses detailed measurements of the eye to create a highly personalised LASIK treatment plan that goes beyond a standard spectacle prescription. Perth Laser Vision currently offers WaveLight Plus by Alcon from its Murdoch and Subiaco clinics and is the only Perth provider currently listed in Alcon’s Australian clinic finder.
Safety also depends on whether LASIK is suitable for your eyes in the first place. Before recommending treatment, Perth Laser Vision carries out a comprehensive assessment of factors such as prescription stability, corneal health and overall eye health.
What Is WaveLight Plus InnovEyes?
Understanding the Latest Generation of LASIK Technology
WaveLight Plus InnovEyes is the latest evolution of personalised LASIK technology developed by Alcon. It takes customised treatment planning further by creating a detailed optical model of the individual eye, rather than relying mainly on the measurements used to determine a standard glasses prescription.
A key part of the system is the SightMap diagnostic device, which captures detailed measurements of each eye. WaveLight Plus then uses 3D ray tracing to model how light travels through the eye, while wavefront measurements assess how light is affected as it passes through the eye, helping identify subtle optical irregularities that can influence vision.
These measurements are then used to calculate a personalised laser treatment for each eye. In practical terms, this means WaveLight Plus is not a completely different procedure from LASIK. It is a more individualised approach to planning and delivering LASIK treatment based on the unique optical characteristics of the patient’s eyes.
Is WaveLight Plus InnovEyes Safe?
Why Safety Starts With Careful Patient Selection
WaveLight Plus uses established flap-based LASIK principles alongside newer diagnostic and treatment-planning technology. Before surgery, Perth Laser Vision assesses prescription stability, corneal shape and thickness, and overall eye health to determine whether LASIK is appropriate for the individual.
During treatment, a bladeless femtosecond laser is used to create the corneal flap before the personalised correction is delivered with the excimer laser. Perth Laser Vision also states that its advanced eye-tracking system monitors eye position more than 1,000 times per second, helping the laser respond to small eye movements during treatment.
While no laser eye procedure is risk-free, careful screening helps determine whether LASIK is appropriate, while detailed measurements and controlled laser delivery help guide the planned correction. Not everyone will be an ideal candidate for LASIK, which is why suitability for laser eye surgery is assessed during consultation rather than assumed from prescription alone.
How WaveLight Plus Improves on Traditional LASIK
A More Personalised Approach to Vision Correction
LASIK has evolved to include increasingly customised forms of treatment planning. WaveLight Plus takes this further by using ray-tracing measurements to create a detailed three-dimensional optical model of each eye.
This allows the treatment plan to account for subtle optical irregularities that may not be captured by a standard prescription alone. By incorporating these individual characteristics into the treatment plan, the aim is to improve not only how clearly a patient can see, but also the overall quality of their vision.
In a prospective clinical study involving 106 patients (212 eyes) assessed three months after treatment, 98% of eyes achieved 20/20 vision or better, around 83% achieved 20/16 or better, and around 45% achieved 20/12.5 or better.
Individual outcomes vary, and these figures describe visual acuity rather than the absence of surgical risks. Results can also depend on factors including prescription, eye health, healing and suitability for LASIK.
Is WaveLight Plus InnovEyes Flapless?
Understanding How the Procedure Works
No. WaveLight Plus InnovEyes is not flapless. It is currently performed as a LASIK procedure, which means a thin corneal flap is created as part of the treatment.
The procedure begins with numbing eye drops to keep the eye comfortable. A femtosecond laser is then used to create a thin corneal flap, which is gently lifted. The underlying tissue is reshaped with an excimer laser using the personalised WaveLight Plus treatment plan. Once the correction is complete, the flap is repositioned so healing can begin.
This is different from a surface-based procedure such as PRK laser eye surgery, where no LASIK-style flap is created. Instead, the surface layer of the cornea is removed before the underlying tissue is reshaped. The most suitable approach depends on factors such as corneal characteristics, prescription and overall eye health.
What Is the Recovery Time for WaveLight Plus InnovEyes?
What Patients Can Expect After Surgery
WaveLight Plus InnovEyes recovery time is generally similar to LASIK recovery, as WaveLight Plus is performed using the same flap-based procedure. Many patients notice an improvement in vision soon after treatment, with clearer vision often developing within the first day.
Recovery varies between individuals, but Perth Laser Vision notes that many laser eye surgery patients can return to normal work duties in around two days. People working in dusty or manual environments may need additional time away.
Vision can continue to settle and stabilise as the eyes heal, which is why follow-up appointments are an important part of recovery. Patients should also follow their laser eye surgery aftercare instructions around eye drops, protecting the eyes and returning to normal activities.
Is There an Age Limit for WaveLight Plus InnovEyes?
Age Is Only One Part of the Assessment
There is no single age that determines whether someone is suitable for WaveLight Plus InnovEyes. Age is considered alongside factors such as prescription stability, corneal health, overall eye health, lifestyle and what the patient hopes to achieve from vision correction.
For younger adults, one of the main considerations is whether their prescription has remained stable over time. If the prescription is still changing, it may be better to wait before having LASIK.
For older patients, age-related changes can also influence the recommendation. Presbyopia, which affects close focusing, and conditions such as cataracts may mean that a lens-based procedure is more appropriate than corneal laser treatment.
How Much Does WaveLight Plus LASIK Cost?
Why a Personalised Consultation Comes First
Perth Laser Vision does not publish a separate fixed WaveLight Plus LASIK cost. The amount quoted will depend on the findings of your assessment and the treatment ultimately recommended for your eyes.
Cost is only one part of choosing where to have laser eye surgery. It is also worth considering the quality of the pre-operative assessment, the diagnostic technology used, the surgeon’s experience and the level of personalised aftercare provided.
At Perth Laser Vision, a consultation is used to assess whether WaveLight Plus is appropriate for your eyes and to recommend the most suitable treatment option. This also gives you the opportunity to receive an individual quotation after your clinical assessment.
Why Choose Perth Laser Vision for WaveLight Plus?
Perth Laser Vision is currently the only clinic in Perth offering WaveLight Plus by Alcon, with Alcon’s Australian clinic directory listing Perth Laser Vision locations in Murdoch and Subiaco.
Treatment is led by Dr Phillip McGeorge, MBBS, FRACS, FRANZCO, who Perth Laser Vision reports has performed more than 30,000 laser eye procedures. He established Perth Laser Vision in 1997, giving the clinic a long history in refractive eye surgery in Western Australia.
Perth Laser Vision combines this experience with technologies including the WaveLight FS200 femtosecond laser and WaveLight EX500 excimer laser. The laser platforms are only part of the clinical process. Perth Laser Vision also carries out comprehensive suitability assessments before treatment and develops an individual plan based on the patient’s eyes, vision and lifestyle.
Because Perth Laser Vision also offers alternatives including PRK, SMILE and lens-based procedures, the assessment can consider whether WaveLight Plus LASIK is clinically appropriate or whether another treatment may be better suited to your eyes.
Final Thoughts: Advanced Technology, Backed by Experience
So, is WaveLight Plus InnovEyes safe? For suitable patients, it combines established LASIK techniques with detailed diagnostic measurements and individualised treatment planning. However, no laser eye procedure is completely risk-free, and technology alone does not determine whether treatment is appropriate.
Careful patient selection, detailed pre-operative testing and an experienced surgeon all remain important parts of the process. A comprehensive assessment can help determine whether WaveLight Plus suits your prescription, eye health and lifestyle, or whether another vision-correction option may be more appropriate.
Interested in WaveLight Plus?
Want to know whether WaveLight Plus is suitable for your eyes? Book a consultation with Perth Laser Vision to discuss your suitability and the vision-correction options available to you.
