High-Order Aberrations in Cataract Surgery: Current Status and Future Perspectives: A Scoping Review

Background and Objectives: Due to the evolution of cataract surgery into a refractive procedure in which optimizing visual quality extends beyond achieving good visual acuity, high-order aberrations have been increasingly recognized as important contributors to postoperative visual performance. This scoping review aims to map and synthesize the available evidence on higher-order aberrations in the context of cataract surgery, with a focus on the surgical techniques, intraocular lens (IOL) design, measurement factors, and their association with the visual outcomes. Materials and Methods: A scoping review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A search of electronic databases was performed using a predefined Boolean strategy, complemented by a manual screening of reference lists and independent searches. Studies evaluating higher-order aberrations (HOAs) before and/or after cataract surgery were included. Data were charted descriptively, and findings were synthesized narratively. Results: A total of 94 studies were included. The evidence shows that differences in HOA profiles are based on the surgical techniques, IOL designs (monofocal, multifocal, toric, and extended depth-of-focus), and measurement devices. Increased HOAs were frequently associated with reduced contrast sensitivity, especially under mesopic conditions. Tear-film instability and pupil size were additional factors contributing to dynamic changes in wavefront aberrations. Considerable methodological heterogeneity was observed across studies. Conclusions: The current body of evidence suggests a strong connection between corneal characteristics, IOL design, surgical techniques, patient-specific factors, and postoperative visual quality. HOAs play an important but not an exclusive role. Future research should focus on standardized measurement approaches, population-specific optical considerations, and personalized strategies to optimize visual quality after cataract surgery.