Third-order aberrations of pseudophakic eyes.

The aberrations of pseudophakic eyes were analysed by third-order theory assuming thin intraocular lenses. Third-order aberrations with spherical surfaced lenses are quadratic functions of lens shape. Spherical aberration and coma are generally the most rapidly changing aberrations, at small field positions, with change in lens shape. Optimum designs probably lie within the shape factor range at which these attain minimum absolute values (+1.1, spherical aberration; -0.9 to -3.4, coma). The importance of spherical aberration declines relative to that of off-axis aberrations as pupil size decreases. The introduction of a level of corneal asphericity alters each aberration by a constant amount for any lens shape.