Higher-order aberrations and visual acuity after LASEK

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Higher-order aberrations and visual acuity after LASEK
September 04, 2007
Berrak Urgancioglu1, 2 Contact Information, Kamil Bilgihan1 and Sertac Ozturk3
(1) Department of Ophthalmology, Gazi University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
(2) Kermes Sitesi 5.blok No:17, Umitkoy, Ankara, Turkey
(3) Department of Ophthalmology, Ufuk University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey
Springer Netherlands

Abstract Background To determine ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in eyes with supernormal vision after myopic astigmatic laser subepithelial keratomileusis (LASEK) and to compare the findings with those in eyes with natural supernormal vision. Methods Ocular HOAs were measured after LASEK in 20 eyes of 12 myopic astigmatic patients with postoperative uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of >20/16 (group 1). Patients who were included in the study had no visual symptoms like glare, halo or double vision. The measurements were taken 8.3 ± 3 months after LASEK surgery. In group 2 ocular HOAs were examined in 20 eyes of 10 subjects with natural UCVA of >20/16 as a control. Measurements were taken across a pupil with a diameter of 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm. Root-mean-square (RMS) values of HOAs, $$ Z_{{3^{{ - 1}} }} $$, $$ Z_{{3^{1} }} $$, $$ Z_{{4^{0} }} $$, $$ Z_{{5^{{ - 1}} }} $$, $$ Z_{{5^{1} }} $$ and $$ Z_{{6^{0} }} $$ were analyzed. Results The mean RMS values for each order were higher in group 1 when compared with group 2 at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm pupil diameters. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in spherical and coma aberrations (P > 0.05). Mean RMS values for total HOAs were 0.187 ± 0.09 &#956;m at 4.0 mm and 0.438 ± 0.178 &#956;m at 6.0 mm pupil in group 1 and 0.120 ± 0.049 &#956;m at 4.0 mm and 0.344 ± 0.083 &#956;m at 6.0 mm pupil in group 2. The difference between groups in total HOAs was statistically significant at 4.0 mm and 6.0 mm pupil diameters (P < 0.05). Conclusion Ocular HOAs exist in eyes with supernormal vision. After LASEK, the amount of HOAs of the eye increases under both mesopic and photopic conditions. However the amount of HOA increase does not seem to be consistent with visual symptoms.

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