The effect of Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy on ocular wave front aberrations

To assess the effect of Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy on ocular wave front aberrations.

Retrospective comparative study.

Twenty-four eyes of 24 consecutive pseudophakic patients with symptomatic PCO, who presented for Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy at our clinic, were included in this study.

The wave front aberrations of the entire optical path of 24 pseudophakic eyes of 24 patients before, and 1 month after, Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy were measured using the Nidek Optical Path Difference (OPD) scan aberrometer. Total, tilt, and high-order aberrations, and total coma, total trefoil, total tetrafoil, total spherical, and total high astigmatism aberrations were analyzed statistically. Secondary measures included changes in visual acuity and refraction, and repeatability of wave front measurements in the fellow eye.

Before Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy, the total higher-order aberrations root mean-square (RMS) wave front aberration was 2.08 (SD 2.20) microm, with total trefoil being a major contributor at 1.19 (SD 1.15) microm. One month after the procedure, significant decreases in total, tilt, and high-order aberrations, and total trefoil, total tetrafoil, total spherical, and total high astigmatism aberrations were noted (p< 0.05). No significant changes in total coma aberrations were found (p > 0.05). Additionally, significant improvement in visual acuity without significant change in refraction was observed. No statistically significant differences were detected in any of the RMS values of wave front measurements taken 1 month later in the fellow eye.

Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy causes significant decrease in ocular wave front aberrations measured using the Nidek-OPD scan aberrometer, which can account for a better optical quality after the procedure. Further research to examine the impact of wave front aberrations in visual function after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy is needed.