Higher-order aberrations induced by nuclear cataract

To measure higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in the entire eye and in the internal optics (lens) in patients with nuclear cataract.

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

A visual function analyzer that combines ray-tracing aberrometry and corneal topography was used to measure wavefront aberrations in 33 eyes of 20 patients who had nuclear cataract.

The wavefront maps of the entire eye were similar to those of the internal optics. The average root mean square (RMS) of HOAs in the entire eye and in the internal optics was 1.59 microm and 2.13 microm, respectively, with an optical zone of 6.5 mm. The predominant HOA in the entire eye and the internal optics was coma; the mean RMS of coma was 0.98 mum in the entire eye and 1.28 microm in the internal optics. The spherical aberration of the internal optics correlated negatively with the grade of nuclear cataract (r= -0.450, P= .009).

Most HOAs in eyes with nuclear cataracts were due to the internal optics; coma was the predominant HOA. The grade of nuclear cataract was negatively correlated with the amount of spherical aberration. These findings may explain the subjective symptoms in patients with nuclear cataract.