Contrast sensitivity function and ocular higher-order wavefront aberrations in normal human eyes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relation between contrast sensitivity function and ocular higher-order wavefront aberrations in normal human eyes.


METHODS
Prospective observational case series.


METHODS
Three hundred seven eyes of 161 normal subjects, ranging in age from 15 to 60 years (30.9+/-8.0 [mean +/- standard deviation]).


METHODS
Ocular higher-order aberrations were measured for a 4-mm pupil using the Hartmann-Shack wavefront analyzer. The root-mean-square of the third- and fourth-order Zernike coefficients was used to represent comalike and spherical-like aberrations, respectively. We measured contrast sensitivity, low-contrast visual acuity (VA), and letter contrast sensitivity. From the contrast sensitivity data, the area under the log contrast sensitivity function (AULCSF) was calculated. Pupil diameter in a photopic condition was recorded using a digital camera.


RESULTS
Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that comalike aberration (P = 0.002) was significantly associated with AULCSF, but spherical-like aberration (P = 0.200), age (P = 0.185), and photopic pupil diameter (P=0.252) were not. Comalike aberration showed a significant correlation with low-contrast VA (P<0.001), but spherical-like aberration (P = 0.293), age (P = 0.266), and pupil diameter (P = 0.756) did not. Comalike aberration was found to be significantly associated with letter contrast sensitivity (P<0.001), but spherical-like aberration (P=0.082), age (P = 0.370), and pupil diameter (P = 0.160) were not.


CONCLUSIONS
In normal human eyes, comalike aberration of the eye significantly influences contrast sensitivity function.
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. toshika@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Okamoto
Chikako
C
Samejima
Tomokazu
T
Tokunaga
Tadatoshi
T
Miyata
Kazunori
K
D000065:Accommodation, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D012030:Refractive Errors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology