Effects of Zernike wavefront aberrations on visual acuity measured using electromagnetic adaptive optics technology

Karolinne Maia Rocha, Laurent Vabre, Fabrice Harms, Nicolas Chateau, Ronald R. Krueger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study measured the changes in visual acuity induced by individual Zernike ocular aberrations of various root-mean-square (RMS) magnitudes. METHODS: A crx1 Adaptive Optics Visual Simulator (Imagine Eyes) was used to modify the wavefront aberrations in nine eyes. After measuring ocular aberrations, the device was programmed to compensate for the eye's wavefront error up to the 4th order and successively apply different individual Zernike aberrations using a 5-mm pupil. The generated aberrations included defocus, astigmatism, coma, trefoil, and spherical aberration at a level of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.9 μm. Monocular visual acuity was assessed using computer-generated Landolt-C optotypes. RESULTS: Correction of the patients' aberrations improved visual acuity by a mean of 1 line (-0.1 logMAR) compared to best sphero-cylinder correction. Aberrations of 0.1 μm RMS resulted in a limited decrease in visual acuity (mean +0.05 logMAR), whereas aberrations of 0.3 μm RMS induced significant visual acuity losses with a mean reduction of 1.5 lines (+0.15 logMAR). Larger aberrations of 0.9 μm RMS resulted in greater visual acuity losses that were more pronounced with spherical aberration (+0.64 logMAR) and defocus (+0.62 logMAR), whereas trefoil (+0.22 logMAR) was found to be better tolerated. CONCLUSIONS: The electromagnetic adaptive optics visual simulator effectively corrected and generated wavefront aberrations up to the 4th order. Custom wavefront correction significantly improved visual acuity compared to best-spectacle correction. Symmetric aberrations (eg, defocus and spherical aberration) were more detrimental to visual performance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)953-959
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Refractive Surgery
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2007
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Ophthalmology

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