Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To describe the evolution of monochromatic optical aberrations as a function of age. Methods: Transversal comparative study involving 38 subjects enrolled at the Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, Montreal, between June and November 2001. Prerequisite included a spherical equivalent within ±3.50D of emmetropia, a corrected visual acuity 20/40 and a normal ophthalmic exam. A LOCS III evaluation was perfomed on all lenses after the age of 50 and scores superior to 1 were rejected (C, NO, NC, or P). Optical aberrations were measured using a Hartmann-Shack wave front sensor, before and after pharmacological dilation (2.5% phenylephrine hydrobromide & 0.5% tropicamide). The rms reported here were calculated on a dilated pupil of 5 mm. Pearson coefficient of correlation, Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA and X2 were used to assess the relationship between variables. Results: The mean age was 54.4±22.7 years (range: 8 to 80) and the mean spherical equivalent 0.40±1.10D (range: -1.63 to +3.25D). Hartmann-Shack wave front analysis revealed a significant increase in monochromatic optical aberrations as a function of age (r2=0.487; p <.0005; n=38; y=0.3244*e0.0074*x). This increase, however, was only minimal prior to the age of 50 (mean rms: 0.373±0.024 lamda, range: 0.138 to 0.405 lamda) and more marked after age 50 (mean rms: 0.559±0.099 lamda, range: 0.345 to 0.732 lamda). Conclusion: These results indicate a deterioration in the quality of the image with age and should be taken into account when considering refractive surgery outcome.