Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026
Comparison of Agreement and Accuracy using Binocular Wavefront Optometer with Autorefractor and Phoropter
Published on: September 16, 2025
Comparison of higher order aberrations after LASIK and LASEK for myopia
Colm McAlinden1, Jonathan E Moore
1School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Ulster, Coleraine, United Kingdom. colm.mcalinden@gmail.com
Purpose:
To compare the change in higher order aberrations (HOAs) after LASIK and laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASEK).
Methods:
This prospective comparative study measured HOAs preoperatively and 3 months postoperatively in 65 eyes (41 patients) that underwent LASIK and 65 eyes (50 patients) that underwent LASEK. Preoperative refraction was limited to myopia up to -5.00 diopters (D) and astigmatism
Results:
Statistically significant (P<.05) changes in five Zernike polynomial terms following LASIK ( Z4-4, Z40, Z44, Z5-3, Z60) were noted. There was a decrease in Zernike term Z5-3 and increases in the remaining four Zernike terms. Statistically significant changes in five Zernike polynomial terms following LASEK ( Z3-1, Z40, Z5-5, Z5-1, Z60) were noted. There was a decrease in Zernike term Z3-1 and increases in the remaining four Zernike terms.
Conclusions:
Wavefront-guided LASIK and LASEK caused increases in spherical aberration, with LASIK additionally causing increases in two fourth order HOAs and LASEK additionally causing increases to two fifth order HOAs. As the same laser treatment was applied, it is presumed that the differences relate to the method of flap creation.
