Ocular Aberrations in Eyes with Primary Congenital Glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG) is a severe form of glaucoma presenting in infancy.
• Ocular aberrations can significantly impact visual quality and function.
• Understanding aberration profiles in PCG is crucial for managing visual rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare ocular higher-order aberrations (HOA) and lower-order aberrations (LOA) in Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG) patients.
• To determine the contribution of corneal and internal ocular planes to these aberrations in PCG.
• To correlate aberration magnitudes with clinical findings in PCG.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, comparative study involving 32 treated PCG patients and 39 controls.
• Wavefront aberrometry and topography (iTrace) were used to measure ocular aberrations.
• Data were compared between PCG eyes, fellow eyes of unilateral PCG, and healthy controls.

Main Results:

• PCG eyes showed significantly higher total ocular, corneal, and internal aberrations (RMS 1.7µm vs 0.3µm, p=0.014).
• Higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and lower-order aberrations (LOAs) were significantly elevated in PCG eyes compared to controls.
• Coma and trefoil were the predominant HOAs in PCG; corneal opacity correlated with higher astigmatism.

Conclusions:

• Eyes affected with PCG exhibit substantially greater total, HOA, and LOA at both corneal and internal planes.
• These increased aberrations likely contribute to compromised visual function in PCG patients.
• Further research is needed to determine the precise impact on visual outcomes and rehabilitation strategies.