Optics of refractive surgery

In dealing with refractive surgery as a subspecialty, a thorough understand ing of the optical properties of the eye, the optics of appropriate vision function testing, and corneal surface measurements is necessary. This found ational information allows us to understand the optics of laser vision corr ection, which is of core importance to the subject of this chapter. Finally , both the customization of laser vision correction with topography and wav e-front sensing allow us to look at the optics of refractive surgery in an entirely new light. Understanding aberrations and how they may be corrected will allow us to achieve a potential for better visual acuity than a patie nt's best corrected acuity naturally. The chapter addresses the most import ant issues regarding the optics of refractive surgery.