Change of High-order Aberration after Wavefront-guided LASIK and LASEK.

Purpose: To evaluate the changes in ocular high-order aberration after wavefront-guided laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and wavefront-guided laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK). Methods: Twenty-four eyes of 14 patients who underwent wavefront-guided LASIK, and ten eyes of six patients who underwent wavefront-guided LASEK were retrospectively reviewed. Uncorrected visual acuity, best corrected visual acuity, manifest refraction and high order aberration were evaluated before the operation and at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months and 6 months after the operation. Aberrations were measured using a WaveScan Wavefront System (VISX, Santa Clara, CA). We analyzed the total high-order aberration, coma aberration and spherical aberration before and after surgery. Results: There were no statistically significant differences in total high-order aberration or coma aberration between preoperative and postoperative 6 month measurements in either group. However the spherical aberration showed a statistically significant increase between the preoperative and postoperative 6 month measurements in the wavefront-guided LASEK group (p=0.037). The total high order aberration showed no correlation with the preoperative spherical equivalent (p=0.55), and the change in total high-order aberration did not correlate with the amount of surgically achieved correction in either group at all follow-up periods. Conclusions: Wavefront-guided LASIK and wavefront-guided LASEK showed no statistically significant changes in total high-order aberration at postoperative 6 months.