Peripheral refraction and image blur in four meridians in emmetropes and myopes

The peripheral refractive error of the human eye has been hypothesized to be a major stimulus for the development of its central refractive error.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in the peripheral refractive error across horizontal, vertical and two diagonal meridians in emmetropic and low, moderate and high myopic adults.

Thirty-four adult subjects were recruited and aberration was measured using a modified commercial aberrometer. We then computed the refractive error in power vector notation from second-order Zernike terms. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the statistical differences in refractive error profiles between the subject groups and across all measured visual field meridians.

Small amounts of relative myopic shift were observed in emmetropic and low myopic subjects. However, moderate and high myopic subjects exhibited a relative hyperopic shift in all four meridians. Astigmatism J₀ and J₄₅ had quadratic or linear changes dependent on the visual field meridians. Peripheral Sphero-Cylindrical Retinal Image Blur increased in emmetropic eyes in most of the measured visual fields.

The findings indicate an overall emmetropic or slightly relative myopic periphery (spherical or oblate retinal shape) formed in emmetropes and low myopes, while moderate and high myopes form relative hyperopic periphery (prolate, or less oblate, retinal shape). In general, human emmetropic eyes demonstrate higher amount of peripheral retinal image blur.