Ocular higher order aberrations: A comparison between myopes and emmetropes.

AIM: The aim of the study was to study and compare the higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in myopes and emmetropes.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

This study was done as a cross-sectional, comparative study consisting of 288 myopic eyes and 322 emmetropic eyes yes. All patients included in the study underwent a complete eye examination, including refraction, slit lamp examination, and wave front analysis using Baush and Lomb Zywave aberrometer. The wavefront maps were analyzed using a 6 mm pupil diameter and up to the fifth order of Zernike coefficients.

RESULTS

The mean age in the myopic group was 24.5 ± 4.5 years. The mean spherical equivalent in the myopic group was - 3.5 ± 2.7 D. A statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) negative correlation (r = -0.2) was noted between the spherical equivalent and total higher order root mean square (HO RMS) (from 3rd to 5th) in the myopia group. The mean age in the emmetropic group was 25.04 ± 6.39 years. A statistically significant (P ≤ 0.05) positive correlation was noted between age and total HO RMS in the emmetropia group. Comparison of HOAs between the myopia group and emmetropia group revealed a statistically significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) in the mean value of vertical coma, fourth-order spherical aberration. The mean value of total HO RMS (third to fifth order aberrations) in the myopia and emmetropia groups was found to be 0.444 ± 0.167, 0.412 ± 0.156 μm, respectively.

CONCLUSION

We found more total levels of HOAs in myopic eyes compared to emmetropes.