Wavefront aberrations and retinal image quality in different lenticular opacity types and densities

Abstract

To investigate wavefront aberrations in the entire eye and in the internal optics (lens) and retinal image qualities according to different lenticular opacity types and densities. Forty-one eyes with nuclear cataract, 33 eyes with cortical cataract, and 29 eyes with posterior subcapsular cataract were examined. In each group, wavefront aberrations in the entire eye and in the internal optics and retinal image quality were measured using a raytracing aberrometer. Eyes with cortical cataracts showed significantly higher coma-like aberrations compared to the other two groups in both entire eye and internal optic aberrations (P = 0.012 and P = 0.007, respectively). Eyes with nuclear cataract had lower spherical-like aberrations than the other two groups in both entire eye and internal optics aberrations (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). In the nuclear cataract group, nuclear lens density was negatively correlated with internal spherical aberrations (r = -0.527, P = 0.005). Wavefront technology is useful for objective and quantitative analysis of retinal image quality deterioration in eyes with different early lenticular opacity types and densities. Understanding the wavefront optical properties of different crystalline lens opacities may help ophthalmic surgeons determine the optimal time to perform cataract surgery.

Figure 1

Pentacam Scheimpflug image of a nuclear cataract. (A) Average nuclear lens density in the region of interest, marked by the elliptical mask and (B) digital slit-lamp photograph of the same lens.

Figure 2

The higher-orderaberration map of ocular Modulation Transfer Function(MTF) by cataract group.

Figure 3

Mean Zernike coefficients of the internal optics (pupil size: 6 mm, third to sixth order coefficients) in the cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular cataract groups. *P < 0.05, error bars represent the SD.

Figure 4

Modulation transfer function curves according to cataract group for a 6 mm pupil diameter at different spatial frequencies. *P < 0.05, error bars represent the SD.

Figure 5

Relationship between nuclear lens density and internal optics aberrations in the nuclear cataract group. (A) RMS HOA, (B) coma, (C) spherical aberration, (D) trefoil. The correlation is significant; r and P values were calculated by Spearman rank correlation.

Figure 6

Relationship between average height from the modulation transfer function curve (modulation between 0 and 30 cpd) and nuclear lens density in the nuclear cataract group. A negative linear correlation was found (r = −0.463, P = 0.013).