Abstract
Purpose::
To analyze the corneal wavefront higher order aberrations (HOAs) following penetrating keratoplasty and selective suture removal.
Methods::
All patients undergoing penetrating keratoplasty by the same surgeon (RKF) using identical technique were retrospectively identified. Corneal HOAs were calculated at the week 6, week 10, 6 month, and final post-operative visits, and compared to simulated corneal astigmatism (simK), surface regularity index (SRI) and surface asymmetry index (SAI), and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).
Results::
92 eyes were identified. Total corneal HOAs declined from the week 6 to final visit (week 6: 0.65, final: 0.50, P=0.041). Final visit linear regression demonstrated correlations of SAI and SRI with total corneal HOAs (R = 0.51 and R=0.45, respectively). No relationship for simK or vision was found with total corneal HOAs (R = 0.003 and R=0.30, respectively).
Conclusions::
Total corneal HOAs are increased in the early postkeratoplasty course, possibly representing the optical consequences of surface irregularity. Since simulated keratometry provides no information in regards to corneal HOAs, measuring HOAs may be indicated in select cases. Total corneal HOAs perhaps provide a clinical representation of irregular astigmatism. The visual significance of these total corneal HOAs was not evident, although sub-group analysis by visual potential was not performed.
Keywords: optical properties • cornea: clinical science • imaging/image analysis: clinical