Ocular aberrations in amblyopic children

Abstract

Purpose: To study the pattern of ocular aberrations in amblyopic children, and evaluate a possible relation to etiology and treatment outcomes of amblyopia. Methods: The WaveScan Wavefront System (AMO, Santa Ana, CA, USA) aberrometer was used to assess 75 eyes (60 children) after instillation of 1% cyclopentolate eyedrops. There were 29 males and 31 females with a mean age of 9.23. ±. 2.55. years (range, 5-14. years). The study sample was subdivided into four groups; 16 emmetropic non-amblyopic eyes (control group); 24 pre-treatment newly diagnosed amblyopic eyes; 16 eyes of treated amblyopes and; 19 eyes with refractory amblyopia. Results: Amblyopes had statistically significant greater root mean square (RMS) values for whole eye aberrations, 2nd order aberrations, defocus (Z20) and astigmatism (Z22) compared to emmetropes (P