The effect of simulated normal and amblyopic higher-order aberrations on visual performance.

PURPOSE: To study the effect of simulated amblyopic and normal higher-order aberrations on visual performance of normal eyes.

METHODS

To assess visual function, an adaptive optics visual simulator was used to compensate volunteers' ocular aberrations and simulate the wavefront aberration patterns found in healthy and amblyopic eyes in 7 healthy individuals. Visual acuity for high (100%), medium (50%), and low (10%) contrast and contrast sensitivity at 10, 20, and 25 cycles per degree (cpd) were measured after simulation of both pattern aberrations. The modulation transfer function and the point spread function were computed based on the aberration data. All measures were taken for 3 and 5.5 mm pupil sizes.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were found between both groups for any analyzed contrast level, spatial frequency, and pupil size values. Mean logMAR visual acuity for a 3 mm pupil was -0.11 ± 0.04 for 100% contrast levels, -0.06 ± 0.06 for 50%, and 0.17 ± 0.07 for 10%. For a 5.5 mm pupil, the values were -0.06 ± 0.04 (100%), 0.00 ± 0.05 (50%), and 0.21 ± 0.06 (10%). Mean contrast sensitivity for a 3 mm pupil was 1.9 ± 0.2 for 10 cpd, 1.2 ± 0.15 for 20 cpd, and 0.9 ± 0.1 for 25 cpd. For a 5.5 mm pupil, contrast sensitivity was 1.4 ± 0.2 (10 cpd), 0.9 ± 0.2 (20 cpd), and 0.6 ± 0.2 (25 cpd). MTFs and PSFs were comparable in the two groups for both pupils.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher-order aberrations seen in idiopathic amblyopic eyes alone do not appear to contribute to the decreased visual function.