Ocular aberrations after wavefront optimized LASIK for myopia

PURPOSE: To study the change in ocular aberrations after wavefront optimized (WFO) laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for correction of myopia and to analyze causative factors that may influence them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a prospective case series. WFO LASIK was performed for the correction of myopia, using the hansatome (Bausch and Lomb) microkeratome to create the flap and the Allegretto laser (Wavelight Technologie) to perform the ablation. The Allegretto wave analyser (Tscherning-type) measured the ocular aberrations prior to LASIK , one month and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean age of the 59 patients included in the study was 25±5.64 years and the mean spherical equivalent of the 117 eyes that underwent LASIK was ‒5.33±1.22 preoperatively and ‒0.21±0.38 postoperatively. Hundred and two eyes of 117 (87%) achieved uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) of 20/20 or better after WFO LASIK and 104 of 117 eyes (89%) were within ±0.5D of the attempted refractive correction. There was a 1.96-fold increase in total root-mean-square of higher order aberrations. Induced changes in seven of the 22 higher order Zernike terms showed a significant linear correlation with the refractive correction attempted. Larger ablation zones induced less spherical aberration. CONCLUSION: In spite of an excellent visual outcome, WFO LASIK induces significant higher order aberrations. Large ablation zones reduce the induction of spherical aberration.