Wavefront analysis in normal refractive surgery candidates.
OBJECTIVE
To quantify the higher order aberrations of refractive surgery candidates and compare the wavefront-determined refractions with manifest refractions refined with a +/- 0.25 Jackson cross cylinder.


METHODS
Results of 226 consecutive patients (418 eyes) were analyzed with the WaveScan WavePrint system (VISX, Santa Clara, Calif). Only patients with normal eyes without previous surgery were included.


RESULTS
The mean spherical equivalent refraction determined with wavefront analysis was -3.40 +/- 3.14 diopters (D) (range: -10.72 to +5.41 D). The largest amount of higher order aberrations was detected with : a 6-mm pupil diameter (coma 0.14 +/- 0.08 microm; trefoil 0.10 +/- 0.07 microm; spherical aberrations 0.09 +/- 0.07 microm). The mean root-mean-square of higher order aberrations and total aberrations were 0.23 +/- 0.11 microm and 4.00 +/- 2.45 microm, respectively. No statistically significant correlation was noted between higher order aberrations and gender (P = 0.7) or between higher order aberration and refractive level (P > .59). The mean differences in spherical equivalent refraction, sphere, and cylinder between WaveScan measurements and manifest refraction were 0.36 +/- 0.41 D, 0.40 +/- 0.44 D, and 0.28 +/- 0.32 D, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides reference values for higher order aberrations in normal refractive surgery candidates. Wavefront analysis also proved to be a valuable tool for objectively measuring preoperative refractive error.
Netto
Marcelo V
MV
The Cole Eye Institute, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
Ambrósio
Renato
R
Shen
Tueng T
TT
Wilson
Steven E
SE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001251:Astigmatism / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012029:Refraction, Ocular; D054140:Refractive Surgical Procedures; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014792:Visual Acuity