[Localization and age relations of ocular aberrations].

Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the distribution of total, corneal, and mainly internal human third- to sixth-order aberrations (HOA) and investigate possible correlations between wavefront errors and patient age.
Patients and Methods: For this study 140 eyes of 140 subjects (age range 17-77 years) were measured three times each using Nidek Optical Path Difference scan. Mean value and standard deviation for each Zernike polynomial was computed for a 5-mm pupil diameter, and six different age groups were formed.
Results: There was wide individual variation in the internal wavefront aberrations. The mean root-mean-square value for HOA was 0.4563 microm+/-0.296 microm. No positive correlation was found between Zernike polynomials and increasing age. In total spherical aberration however a significant difference was found between the 26-35-year and > or =56-year age groups (p=0.0002), as well as to internal and total coma (Z8) (p=0.0487 and p=0.0117, respectively).
Conclusions: The internal, corneal, and total wavefront aberrations varied widely among patients. Some significant differences were found between the age groups. No correlation between age and the internal, corneal, or total aberrations was found.