Higher order aberrations in children with amblyopia.

PURPOSE

To quantify and characterize higher order aberrations in eyes of children with amblyopia.

METHODS

Higher order aberrations were measured in a group of children using the iTrace Visual Function Analyzer (Tracey Technologies, Houston, TX). Children involved in the study had unilateral amblyopia secondary to strabismus or anisometropia.

RESULTS

Thirty children between 6 and 17 years old (mean: 10.7 years) were studied. Fifteen children had strabismic and 15 had anisometropic amblyopia. No statistically significant difference was found in mean root mean square values of total higher order aberrations, coma, spherical, higher order astigmatism, trefoil, or 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th order terms of normal and amblyopic eyes.

CONCLUSION

Higher order aberrations are similar in amblyopic eyes due to strabismus or anisometropia and normal fellow eyes. Unlike lower order aberrations such as sphere and cylinder, higher order aberrations are unlikely to play a role in the development of amblyopia.