Changes in wave-front aberrations after rigid gas permeable contact lens fitting in post—laser in situ keratomileusis patients with visual complaints

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses in reducing wave-front aberrations in post-laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) myopic patients. Design: Cross-sectional study. Participants: Thirty patients with visual complaints after conventional LASIK procedure for correcting myopia. Methods: The 30 patients were fitted with RGP contact lenses. Wave-front measurements were taken before and after RGP contact lens wearing. Results: Compared with bare eye examinations, root mean-square values of higher-order aberrations (HOAs) significantly decreased with RGP contact lens use. Amongthese, spherical aberration decreased from 0.507 (SD 0.304) μm to 0.164 (SD 0.121) μm( t = 7.186, p < 0.001); coma decreased from 0.470 (SD 0.312) μm to 0.165 (SD 0.090) μm ( t = 5.566, p < 0.001); secondary coma decreased from 0.079 (SD 0.050) μm to 0.044 (SD 0.027) μm ( t = 4.118, p < 0.001); and total HOAs decreased from 0.782 (SD 0.449) μm to 0.307 (SD 0.140) μm ( t = 6.710, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Fitting RGP contact lenses effectively decreased HOAs induced by conventional myopic LASIK surgery. Possible reasons may be the elimination of irregularity and dissymmetry on the corneal anteriorsurface, relief of the aspherical extent of the central corneal surface, and enlargement of the effective optical zone.