Ray-tracing Wavefront Aberrometry: Advanced ocular diagnostics

Ray-tracing wavefront aberrometry has ushered in a new era in diagnostic imaging, offering clinicians a powerful tool to assess and treat a range of visual aberrations. Among the many wavefront aberrometers available today, the iTrace stands out for its versatility and precision.

A glimpse into iTrace technology

Ray-tracing wavefront aberrometry has revolutionised the field of ophthalmology, and the iTrace, developed by Tracey Technologies, is at the forefront of this transformation.

This article delves deep into the technology behind the iTrace, its diverse applications in clinical practice, and how it’s changing the game in improving visual outcomes for patients.

iTrace is a unique diagnostic tool, combining ray tracing and Placido disk technology to capture two distinct measurements. This comprehensive analysis provides clinicians with a comprehensive overview of a patient’s visual function, including topography, wavefront, autorefraction, keratometry, day-to-night vision, pupillometry, white-to-white measurement, and more. All generated in a matter of milliseconds.

What makes the iTrace truly exceptional is its ability to provide insights into the structure of the eye and its function.

In contrast, many other devices rely on methods like Hartmann-Shack sensors or dynamic skiascopy to assess light reflected from the retina. While these methods work well for simpler optical systems, they tend to produce inaccuracies when dealing with complex cases such as highly aberrated eyes, pseudophakia, cataracts, contact lenses, or eyeglasses.

The iTrace, with its proprietary ray tracing technology, excels in replicating a patient’s vision under various conditions and circumstances.

Objectively assessing visual impairment

iTrace empowers healthcare professionals to gain a deeper understanding of the root causes behind their patients’ visual complaints. Issues like blurriness, double vision, glare, halos, night myopia, and starbursts often stem from higher-order aberrations like Coma, Spherical Aberration, and Trefoil.

Addressing these visual impairments effectively hinges on pinpointing whether these aberrations originate in the cornea or the internal optics of the eye. By leveraging the iTrace, practitioners can quickly and precisely determine whether symptoms are rooted in corneal or lens-related issues, allowing them to recommend the most appropriate course of action.

Assessing Lens Dysfunction

The iTrace goes beyond standard assessments. It gathers a range of numerical measurements and assigns grades (0-10) to a patient’s internal and corneal visual quality, using the Dysfunctional Lens Index (DLI) and the Corneal Performance Index (CPI). These values are then synthesised to create the Quality of Vision Index (QVI).

This comprehensive dataset offers precise insights into the underlying causes of vision problems, aiding in determining the optimal timing for vision correction procedures and identifying the most suitable correction approach for each unique case.

Determining Premium IOL eligibility

iTrace proves invaluable in evaluating candidates for premium intraocular lenses (PIOLs). Through iTrace scans, practitioners assess a patient’s visual axis, the pupil’s centre, and the limbus’s centre.

This data plays a pivotal role in pre-surgical planning, enabling clinicians to determine whether a patient’s optical system aligns with multifocal lenses. When the visual axis and the limbus centre closely align or fall within the same meridian, toric or multifocal lenses can produce highly favourable outcomes.

Additionally, the evaluation of the Angle Alpha and corneal wavefront is essential. When significant corneal aberrations are present, surgeons can avoid placing multifocal lenses behind a cornea with multifocal characteristics, as identified through this swift screening process.