Corneal higher-order aberrations after cataract surgery: Manual phacoemulsification versus femtosecond-laser assisted technique

PURPOSE: To compare and evaluate corneal higher-order aberrations (c-HOA) between conventional manual phacoemulsification (Phaco), femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS), and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with astigmatic keratotomy (FSAK). METHODS: In this retrospective single center study, 53 healthy individuals with cataract (73 eyes) underwent phacoemulsification with implantation of an intraocular lens. Three groups were formed: group A, Phaco (n = 27 eyes of 21 patients); group B, FLACS (n = 25 eyes of 15 patients); group C, FSAK (n = 21 eyes of 17 patients). An iTrace aberrometer (Tracey Technologies, Houston, TX, USA) was used to perform aberrometry with a pupil scan size of 5.0 mm. We used ANOVA analysis and the paired sample t-test for statistical analysis. RESULTS: There was no difference in total c-HOA between the groups prior to surgery (F(2,66) = 2.2, p = 0.128), but some evidence for a difference between the groups after surgery (F(2,65) = 3.87, p = 0.025). After surgery, total c-HOA increased in all groups, but the greatest increase occurred FSAK. CONCLUSION: Manual phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery seem to have less impact on corneal higher-order aberrations than the combination of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery with astigmatic keratotomy.