Age and Spherical Equivalent Related Changes in Wavefront Aberrations

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To estimate the age and spherical equivalent related changes in the wavefront aberrations. METHODS: The age related difference in the wavefront aberrations were measured using a WASCA aberrometer on 63 eyes from 38 persons ranging in age from 18 to 60 years with a mean spherical equivalent of -0.55 diopter. The total RMS (root mean square), the high order RMS, coma and spherical aberration were analyzed and compared according to age(second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth decade). The spherical equivalent related difference in the wavefront aberrations were also measured on 118 eyes from 62 persons with a spherical equivalent ranging from +0.5 D to -10.5 D (average -4.87 D). The total RMS, high order RMS and spherical aberration were analyzed and compared according to the spherical equivalent. RESULTS: With increasing age, the total RMS showed no statistically significant increase (p>0.05), but a high order RMS and spherical aberration showed a significant increase (p0.05). With the increasing amount of spherical equivalent, the total RMS increased significantly (p0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In emmetropia, the total RMS and high order aberration increased significantly with increasing age. With increasing amount of spherical equivalent, the total RMS increased significantly while coma and the spherical aberrations did not.