Both Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision reshape your cornea with a laser to eliminate glasses. But one follows a standard treatment profile while the other maps 22,000 unique data points on your cornea to create a fully personalised ablation plan. That distinction matters more than most clinics explain—and it directly affects your visual quality, night vision, and long-term satisfaction.
This guide compares Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision on the metrics that actually matter to patients: how each procedure works, who’s a better candidate for which, recovery differences, visual outcomes, and cost. If you’re trying to decide between the two, this is the breakdown you need.
Key Takeaways
- Femto LASIK corrects your spectacle prescription. Contoura Vision corrects your prescription plus microscopic corneal irregularities that glasses themselves can’t fix.
- Contoura Vision uses topolyzer-guided mapping (22,000 elevation points) to create a treatment profile unique to each eye.
- Both procedures use a femtosecond laser to create the flap—the difference is in how the excimer laser reshapes the cornea underneath.
- Contoura Vision may deliver sharper outcomes (some patients achieve better than 6/6), while Femto LASIK reliably achieves 6/6 in most cases.
Femto LASIK vs. Contoura Vision: At a Glance
| Feature | Femto LASIK | Contoura Vision |
|---|---|---|
| Technology | Wavefront-optimised excimer laser | Topolyzer-guided excimer laser (22,000 data points) |
| Flap Creation | Femtosecond laser (bladeless) | Femtosecond laser (bladeless) — identical |
| What It Corrects | Spectacle prescription (sphere, cylinder, axis) | Prescription + microscopic corneal irregularities |
| Personalisation Level | Standard — based on refraction data | Fully customised — unique topographic map per eye |
| Typical Visual Acuity | 6/6 in most patients | 6/6 or better — higher chance of 6/5 |
| Night Vision Quality | Good — some patients report mild halos initially | Excellent — fewer halos, glare, and starbursts |
| Higher-Order Aberrations | May induce some new aberrations | Tends to reduce existing aberrations |
| Ideal For | Regular corneas, straightforward prescriptions | Irregular corneas, quality-focused patients |
| Procedure Time | 10–15 min per eye | 10–15 min per eye |
| Recovery Timeline | 1–2 days functional vision | 1–2 days functional vision — identical |
| Cost | Lower | Higher (additional diagnostic technology) |
What Is Femto LASIK?
Femto LASIK (also called bladeless LASIK or all-laser LASIK) is the modern standard for laser vision correction. The procedure uses two lasers: a femtosecond laser creates a thin corneal flap, and an excimer laser reshapes the underlying tissue to correct your refractive error—whether that’s myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
The term “Femto” refers specifically to the flap-creation step. Older LASIK techniques used a mechanical blade (microkeratome) for this step, but Femto LASIK replaced that with a laser for greater precision and a more predictable flap thickness. The excimer laser ablation, however, follows a wavefront-optimised or standard profile based on your spectacle prescription.
What Is Contoura Vision?
Contoura Vision (also known as topography-guided LASIK) builds on the Femto LASIK platform but adds an entirely different layer of customisation. Before surgery, a device called the Topolyzer Vario scans your cornea and generates a detailed elevation map based on 22,000 data points. This map captures microscopic bumps, valleys, and irregularities that your glasses prescription cannot detect.
The excimer laser then uses this topographic data to create a treatment plan that doesn’t just correct your prescription—it also smooths out corneal surface imperfections. The result is a more optically uniform cornea, which typically means sharper vision, better contrast sensitivity, and fewer issues with glare or halos at night.
Femto LASIK vs. Contoura Vision: Key Differences
How the Flap Is Created
Both procedures use the same femtosecond laser technology to create the corneal flap. There’s no difference at this stage. The flap thickness, diameter, and hinge position are identical whether you’re getting Femto LASIK or Contoura Vision.
How the Cornea Is Reshaped
This is where the two procedures diverge. Femto LASIK uses a wavefront-optimised ablation profile—it corrects your manifest refraction (the prescription your optometrist measures) in a standard pattern. Contoura Vision, by contrast, uses a topography-guided ablation profile that accounts for the unique contour of your individual cornea. It’s the difference between buying an off-the-rack suit and having one tailored to your exact measurements.
Data Points Driving the Treatment
Femto LASIK typically works with your refraction data—sphere, cylinder, and axis values. Contoura Vision works with those values plus 22,000 topographic elevation points, giving the laser far more information to work with when sculpting the corneal surface.
Who Is the Right Candidate for Each?
Femto LASIK May Be Ideal If:
- You have a straightforward refractive error (myopia, hyperopia, or regular astigmatism)
- Your corneal topography shows a smooth, regular surface
- You’re looking for a well-established procedure with predictable outcomes
- Budget is a primary consideration
Contoura Vision May Be Better If:
- You have subtle corneal irregularities that affect visual quality
- You experience glare, halos, or reduced contrast even with current glasses
- You want the best possible chance of achieving better-than-6/6 vision
- Your pre-operative eye examination reveals topographic asymmetry or higher-order aberrations
Both procedures require adequate corneal thickness, stable prescription, and age 18+. The comprehensive evaluation at your consultation determines which option suits your eyes. If you’re comparing all available options beyond these two, our full procedure comparison covers SMILE Pro and other alternatives as well.
Visual Outcomes: What the Data Shows
Both Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision have high success rates. However, published data consistently shows a quality advantage for Contoura Vision in certain metrics:
- Uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA): Contoura Vision patients are more likely to achieve 6/6 or better—some studies report 6/5 outcomes in a higher percentage of patients compared to standard Femto LASIK.
- Higher-order aberrations: Contoura Vision tends to induce fewer higher-order aberrations, resulting in crisper vision quality rather than just sharper letter recognition on a chart.
- Night vision: Because Contoura smooths corneal irregularities, patients generally report fewer complaints about halos, glare, and starbursts when driving at night.
- Enhancement rates: Both procedures have low enhancement rates, though Contoura’s more precise ablation profile may reduce the likelihood of needing a touch-up.
That said, for patients with clean, regular corneas and straightforward prescriptions, the practical difference in outcomes between the two may be small. The advantage of Contoura becomes more significant for eyes with subtle irregularities.
Recovery and Aftercare
Recovery timelines are virtually identical for both procedures. Both involve creating a corneal flap, so the healing trajectory is the same:
- Day 1: Most patients see clearly enough to navigate without glasses. Mild discomfort, tearing, and light sensitivity are common.
- Week 1: Vision stabilises for most daily activities. You’ll use antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops as prescribed.
- Month 1–3: Vision continues to refine. Dry eye symptoms gradually resolve for most patients.
The same aftercare rules apply to both: avoid rubbing your eyes, use prescribed eye drops consistently, skip swimming and dusty environments for the recommended period, and attend all follow-up appointments.
Cost Comparison
Contoura Vision typically costs more than standard Femto LASIK because of the additional diagnostic technology (Topolyzer Vario scanning) and the more complex, personalised treatment planning involved. The price difference varies by clinic, but at Visual Aids Centre, both options are available with transparent pricing and flexible payment options.
The cost gap is worth considering in context: Contoura Vision’s additional investment buys you a treatment plan built from 22,000 data points rather than a handful of refraction values. For patients who prioritise visual quality—particularly night vision and contrast—that premium often represents meaningful value.
Which Should You Choose?
The honest answer: it depends on your eyes. A patient with a simple -3.00 prescription, perfectly regular corneal topography, and no complaints about visual quality will likely achieve excellent results with either procedure. But a patient with subtle corneal asymmetry, borderline higher-order aberrations, or concerns about night driving quality will benefit more from Contoura Vision’s personalised approach.
The best way to determine which procedure is right for you is through a thorough pre-operative evaluation. Book a consultation at Visual Aids Centre, where the diagnostic workup will tell you which option your eyes are best suited for—and why.
Conclusion
Femto LASIK and Contoura Vision both deliver excellent vision correction, but they operate on fundamentally different levels of personalisation. Femto LASIK corrects what your glasses correct. Contoura Vision corrects what your glasses correct plus corneal irregularities that glasses can’t address at all. For many patients, Contoura Vision offers a measurable quality advantage—particularly in contrast sensitivity, night vision, and the likelihood of achieving better-than-6/6 acuity. Your pre-operative evaluation is the definitive way to determine which procedure your eyes will benefit from most.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Contoura Vision safer than Femto LASIK?
Both procedures have an excellent safety profile. Contoura Vision’s more precise ablation may reduce the risk of inducing higher-order aberrations, but the overall complication rate for both is very low.
Does Contoura Vision hurt more than Femto LASIK?
No. Both procedures use the same anaesthetic drops and the same flap-creation technique. The patient experience during surgery is virtually identical.
Can I get Contoura Vision if my cornea is thin?
Contoura Vision requires the same minimum corneal thickness as Femto LASIK. If your cornea is too thin for either, alternatives like SMILE Pro or TransPRK may be recommended instead.
How long does each procedure take?
Both procedures take about 10–15 minutes per eye, including preparation. The actual laser time is under 30 seconds for either procedure.
Which procedure is better for night driving?
Contoura Vision generally produces better night vision outcomes because it smooths corneal irregularities that cause glare and halos. Patients concerned about night driving quality often benefit more from Contoura.
