power of the toric IOL. This helps to limit the
number of patients who end up with less-
than-optimal results and need another proce-
dure or LASIK after recovery.
Both aberrometry systems on the market
offer similar information in different formats.
One aberrometer depicts refractive power
measurements through something that looks
like real-time video, while the other essentially
lets you take "snapshots" during the procedure.
The devices attach to your microscope and are
generally about 3 inches deep and a foot long,
which add some size and takes some getting
used to. Keep in mind that these systems are
merely designed to help verify a physician's
treatment plan while in surgery, not replace
those essential pre-operative calculations and
measurements.
Intraoperative aberrometry is especially
useful in 2 situations — during toric IOL align-
ment and in cases with post-refractive or
LASIK patients. With toric IOL alignment, you
don't always know exactly where the lens is
sitting and if it's giving your patient the cor-
rect refractive power. After initially aligning
the lens, you can use the aberrometer to
ensure that it's at the correct axis, improving
your patient's vision. In post-refractive or
LASIK patients, there can often be a "refrac-
tive surprise," where the post-op outcome is
less than desired since it's often harder to
determine the corneal power of these patients
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