Clinical comparison of 6 aberrometers Part 2: Statistical comparison in a test group

PurposeTo compare and mutually validate the measurements of 6 aberrometers: the Visual Function Analyzer (Tracey), the OPD-Scan (ARK-10000, Nidek), the Zywave (Bausch & Lomb), the WASCA (Carl Zeiss Meditec), the MultiSpot Hartmann-Shack device, and the Allegretto Wave Analyzer.SettingUniversity Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted on a group of 44 healthy eyes with refractions ranging from −5.25 diopters (D) to +5.25 D (cylinder 0 to −2 D). For each aberrometer and each eye, the averaged Zernike data were used to calculate various kinds of root-mean-square (RMS). These parameters, together with the refractive parameters, were then analyzed with a repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, complemented by paired t tests. A similar analysis was done for the comparison of the variances of these parameters.ResultsThe aberrometers gave comparable values for all studied parameters with the following exceptions: The OPD-Scan underestimated the polynomials describing 4- and 5-fold symmetries, and the Visual Function Analyzer slightly overestimated the astigmatism terms. The 3rd-order radial RMS value was different for each device, as well as the RMS in the central 2.0 mm zone. The WASCA presented the lowest variance.ConclusionThese results suggest that in healthy eyes, all aberrometers produced globally similar results but they may vary in some details.