Wavefront aberrometry: comparing and profiling higher-order aberrations produced by intraocular lenses in vitro using a physical model eye system and Hartman-Shack aberrometry.

PURPOSE: To characterize and compare the higher-order aberrations (HOAs) in 3 intraocular lenses (IOLs) designed to minimize HOAs using a new physical model eye.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Auckland, New Zealand.

METHODS

Measurements of higher-order wavefront aberrations were obtained using the Zywave aberrometer and a purpose-built physical model eye. The following IOLs were included: AcrySof IQ IOL SN60WF aspheric, Tecnis ZA9003 aspheric, and Adapt Advanced Optics. Individual Zernike modes were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Fifteen assessments were made of each of 36 individual IOLs (N = 540) at 3 powers (10.0 diopters [D], 20.0 D, 30.0 D), and 18 Zernike modes were compared using multiple ANOVA and canonical discrimination analysis.

RESULTS

The 3 IOL models at the 3 powers showed significantly different profiles of HOA. Statistical differences were recorded for 10 of 18 individual Zernike modes analyzed for an interaction between model and power. The IOLs of the same model appeared to group together in multivariate analysis. Intraocular lenses of a lower power tended to cluster toward the center of the canonical discrimination analysis, while higher-power IOLs were more peripherally located and appeared least similar.

CONCLUSIONS

Validation experiments using the model eye platform showed high reproducibility and low error. The 3 IOLs had statistically different aberration profiles. Higher-power IOLs had greater differences when analyzed using multivariate techniques. Profiling the HOAs of IOLs may assist in the selection of the most appropriate IOL to maximize visual outcome for a given patient after cataract surgery.