Wavefront aberration measurements in dog and cat eyes using an aberrometer designed for human eyes

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To measure the ocular optical aberrations in dog and cat using a wavefront aberrometer based on Hartmann‐Shack technology. Methods Data were obtained from eyes of two normal sedated dogs and one normal sedated cat in accordance to the ARVO statement for the use of animals in ophthalmic and Vision research. Wavefront aberrations were measured using an irx3 aberrometer (Imagine Eyes, Orsay, France). Spherical defocus, astigmatism and Zernike coefficients up to the 8th order were analyzed. Results The optimal acquisition time was 10 ms for all animals. Refractive errors have been analyzed in a 6 mm pupil diameter in all cases. The refractive errors in dog #1, dog #2 and the cat were +2.9D(‐2.0D)111°;‐0.8D(‐0.8D)126° and +3.3D(‐2.1D)98°, respectively while their Root Mean Square (RMS) higher‐order aberrations amounted to 1.9, 1.1, and 2.1 µm RMS respectively. SD in sphere and cylinder was 1.0D in the cat and less than 0.5D in both dogs. SD in the higher‐order RMS was 0.8 µm in the cat and less than 0.5 µm in both dogs. Conclusion Ocular optical aberrations can be measured in sedated dog and cat using a Hartmann‐Shack aberrometer with reduced image acquisition time. The tested animals had relatively large higher‐order wavefront aberrations when compared with healthy human eyes. Measurement reproducibility was affected by tear layer effects. This variability could be further reduced using a larger sensor area, specific head contention device and artificial tears. The measured range of aberrations could be corrected using available adaptive optics technology in order to image retinal cells in living dogs and cats. Financial interest disclosure: B. Lamory and N. Chateau are employees of Imagine Eyes