Statistical analysis of physiological aberrations of the cornea.

PURPOSE To determine corneal aberrometric values in a normal population. METHODS Corneal topography from a group of 4340 patients was retrospectively evaluated. Exclusion criteria were applied in order to select a population with good visual acuity, no previous ocular surgery, no contact lens influence, and no corneal disease. Aberrometric analysis of the corneal wavefront derived from the topographical data of the selected population was performed. Topography from 500 patients (1000 eyes) was selected for Zernike analysis of the corneal surface, with coefficients derived up to the tenth order. RESULTS Corneal surface aberration values related to different pupil diameter were determined. CONCLUSION This preliminary study provided reference values for corneal aberrations in the normal population.