Correlation of higher-order wavefront aberrations with visual function in pseudophakic eyes

To study the correlation between higher-order wavefront aberrations and visual function in eyes with a spherical monofocal intraocular lens (IOL), and to see if the aberrations differ between eyes that received different types of IOLs.

One hundred forty-eight eyes of 148 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and implantation of one of five types of acrylic IOL were enrolled. At 1 month after surgery, ocular aberrations were measured using a Hartmann-Shack aberrometer and corneal aberrations were measured using videokeratography. In addition, the aberration of internal optics was determined by subtracting the corneal aberration from the ocular aberration. These aberrations were correlated with visual acuity and with contrast visual acuity under both photopic and mesopic conditions.

Ocular, corneal, and internal optic aberrations (total aberration, coma, and spherical aberration) were all correlated significantly with visual acuity, as well as with photopic and mesopic contrast visual acuity. The associations between internal optic aberrations and visual function tended to be stronger than were those of corneal aberrations. Furthermore, ocular aberrations differed significantly between eyes with the five different IOLs (P< or =0.0078). Specifically, the internal optic spherical aberration was markedly significantly different between eyes (P=0.0142), and the corneal coma showed a marginally significant difference (P=0.0421).

Ocular, corneal, and internal optic higher-order wavefront aberrations are correlated significantly with visual function in eyes with a spherical monofocal IOL. The spherical aberration of the internal optics and coma of the cornea vary between eyes with different types of IOL.