Variability in angle k and its influence on higher-order aberrations in pseudophakic eyes

Purpose: To observe the variability in angle κ in pseudophakic patients and assess its correlation with optical biometry measurements and higher-order aberrations (HOAs). Setting: Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria. Design: Prospective case series. Methods: This study included patients who had cataract surgery 3 months to 1 year before study recruitment. In all cases, Purkinje meter images were taken. In addition, partial coherence interferometry measurement (IOLMaster) of the axial intraocular lens (IOL) position was performed. In a subgroup of patients, an additional Hartmann-Shack sensor measurement was taken to assess HOAs (WASCA). Results: This study comprised 395 eyes of 349 patients. The mean age of the 210 women and 139 men was 74.1 years ± 8.6 (SD) (range 44 to 91 years). The mean tilt (pupillary axis) and decentration were 3.9 ± 2.3 degrees (range 0.2 to 16.2 degrees) and 0.4 ± 0.2 mm (range 0.0 to 1.7 mm), respectively. The mean angle κ was 5.2 ± 2.6 degrees (range 0.3 to 13.9 degrees), and the mean orientation of this modulus was 189.5 ± 53.2 degrees (range 25.3 to 339.7 degrees). Conclusion: The variability in the angle κ was high.