Quandary: wave-front guided with low higher-order aberrations?

Dr. Krueger noted that there are certain prerequisites for achieving reliable outcomes with a WFG treatment, including perfect centration and perfect eyetracker performance. However, these criteria are often not met in routine practice as suggested by study data on the occurrence of cyclorotation and iris recognition and tracking failure, said Dr. Krueger, medical director, refractive surgery, at the Cole Eye Institute, Cleveland Clinic.

Addressing the concept that a WFG treatment has benefit for optimizing contrast and quality of vision through its ability to correct HOAs, Dr. Krueger presented data from a study he performed using adaptive optics showing that HOA <0.3 µm are not visually significant. He also cited a published paper showing that for ideal visual performance, HOAs should be optimized to maintain a prolate cornea, rather than minimized.

"This research indicated there is a certain dependence on preexisting aberrations, especially in eyes with low values," Dr. Krueger said.