Corneal Higher-Order Aberrations In Early-Onset Cataract Patients Without Any Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study

To evaluate anterior corneal aberrations and corneal curvature measurements in patients with early-onset cataract (EOC) using a Scheimpflug-Placido topographer and compare the results with those of healthy controls to better characterize the higher-order aberration (HOA) profiles in these patients.

Bursa Uludağ University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology.

The study included 100 eyes from 55 consecutive patients aged 18 to 45 years. Exclusion criteria included a history of systemic/ocular diseases or ocular surgery, regular systemic or topical medication, smoking, regular alcohol consumption,current or recent pregnancy (within the two years). Corneal aberrometry and topography were done using a Scheimpflug-Placido topographer. HOAs were calculated as Zernike coefficients for a simulated 6.0 mm pupillary diameter. The following HOAs were analyzed: root mean square (RMS) of total HOAs up to the 7th Zernike order, RMS of third-order trefoil, RMS of third-order coma, RMS of fourth-order spherical aberration, RMS of fifth-order pentafoil. Statistical comparisons were performed between the groups.

Fifty eyes (28 patients) consisted of patient group and 50 eyes (27 patients) consisted of control group. The median age was 38.50 years in patient group and 39.50 years in control group, with no significant differences in demographic characteristics. (p > 0.05). Total HOA, coma, and spherical aberration were significantly higher in the patient group compared to the controls (p = 0.038, p = 0.025, and p = 0.033, respectively). No significant differences were observed in anterior or posterior corneal curvature measurements (p > 0.05). A positive correlation was found between spherical aberration and age in the control group (rho = 0.414, p = 0.022), while no significant correlations were observed between age and HOAs in the patient group.

Currently, the potential differences in corneal aberrations among patients with EOC remain unclear, and no studies in the literature have specifically addressed this issue.HOAs, particularly coma and spherical aberration, were significantly higher in EOC patients without any risk factors compared to healthy controls. These findings suggest that corneal HOA assessment may be a valuable consideration in the preoperative evaluation of EOC patients and intraocular lens selection.