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Tear film evaporation can cause temporary ocular aberration changes
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PARIS — Total and corneal aberrations can increase threefold after a blink, said Robert Montes Mico, MD, here at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Dr. Montes Mico analyzed the optical quality of the air-tear film interface in 20 healthy patients who had no reported ocular disease. Shack-Hartmann wavefront analysis and corneal topography measurements were taken immediately after a blink and at 10 and 20 seconds after a blink.
After a blink, there was an initial improvement in optical quality and a reduction in total aberrations for up to 6 seconds. After 6 seconds, the total aberrations began to significantly increase out to 20 seconds, Dr. Montes Mico said.
At 10 seconds, total aberrations were significantly increased and were two to three times greater at the 20 second follow-up point, he noted.
“The increase in aberrations and the subsequent reduction in optical quality may limit the improved visual performance achieved with refractive surgery,” he said.