Best laser for LASIK?

Posted By Fern on December 23, 1998 at 18:46:49:







What is the best type of laser for LASIK refractive surgery?  I have large pupils - about 7 mm in a somewhat darkened room, as measured by a pupillometer.  I wear a -5.75 and -6.00 in my eyeglasses.  I have dry eyes and eye allergies and cannot tolerate contact lenses much, so I am considering LASIK.  I have been reading on the Internet that in the U.S., mostly the broad beam lasers are approved (such as VisX, Summit), but the Autonomous Technologies flying spot laser has recently been approved.  What about the Chiron Technolas 217, which is their most recent?  This is not yet approved here in the U.S., but it is in Canada.  How does it compare to the Visx Star 2 smooth scan?  Which is best for my prescription and fairly large pupils?  I am at a higher risk for night glare problems (starbursts and halos) because of my large pupils.  Should I have a larger ablation zone to cover my pupil size in darker situations?  But then, the laser would have to go deeper, which poses other risks of distortions, I hear.  Would you recommend leaving this country to have the Chiron Technolas laser?  Or is the VisX Star 2 fine? (VisX Star 2 claims it gives a smoother transition and that it has 7 beams.  But it's still broad beam.)  Should I wait for a flying spot or scanning slit laser type?  I am now 40 years old, and not yet presbyopic - I can read with my distance glasses okay.  Should I be undercorrected with LASIK and have one eye slightly more undercorrected to stave off the need for reading glasses?  (I wouldn't like to have to immediately have to get reading glasses after having LASIK.)  I appreciate your advice on these matters.  Thank you.