Higher-order aberrations and visual function in pseudophakic eyes with a toric intraocular lens

PURPOSE: To compare higher-order aberrations (HOAs) and visual function in eyes with a toric intraocular lens (IOL) and eyes with a nontoric IOL. SETTING: Hayashi Eye Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan. DESIGN: Case-control study. METHODS: Eyes that had phacoemulsification were enrolled in 1 of the following 3 groups: (1) preoperative corneal astigmatism of 1.00 diopter (D) with a toric IOL (toric group), (2) astigmatism of 1.00 D or more with a nontoric IOL (high-astigmatism group), and (3) astigmatism less than 1.00 D with a nontoric IOL (low-astigmatism group). Ocular and corneal HOAs were measured using a wavefront analyzer. Photopic and mesopic visual acuities at high- to low-contrast visual targets were measured using a contrast sensitivity tester. RESULTS: The mean ocular and corneal total HOAs and 3rd-order aberrations in the toric and high-astigmatism groups tended to be greater than in the low-astigmatism group; HOAs and 3rd-order aberrations at 3 months and HOAs at 6 months were significantly different (P ≤.0403). The mean corrected visual acuity did not differ significantly between groups. However, photopic low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA) and mesopic high- to low-contrast visual acuity was significantly worse in the toric and high-astigmatism groups than in the low-astigmatism group (P ≤.0210). CONCLUSION: Postoperatively, ocular and corneal HOAs were greater in eyes with a toric IOL and in eyes with high preexisting corneal astigmatism than in eyes with low preexisting astigmatism, which impaired photopic LCVA and mesopic visual acuity. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.