Health
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

What is an Aberrometer?

Kevin Mathews
Kevin Mathews

Many problems can arise when the eyes form an image of what they see. Ideally, light received by the eye will be properly focused on the retina. In reality, the light is sometimes distorted by imperfections in the cornea and lens. These distortions are called aberrations, and an aberrometer is used to measure them.

Light can be thought of as a collection of lines, or rays. Drawing a line that connects the tip of each ray produces a wavefront. A wavefront can be thought of as a picture that represents how perfect the light is.

When light is received by the eye it will normally be focused on the retina.
When light is received by the eye it will normally be focused on the retina.

An aberrometer works by measuring the wavefront as it passes through the eyes. For this reason, it is sometimes referred to as wavefront technology, or a wavefront aberrometer. In an eye with no aberrations, the wavefront will be flat, like a piece of paper. In an eye with imperfections, it will be bent and distorted.

To have aberrometry performed, the patient will look into the aberrometer and focus on a point of light. The aberrometer will send a low-level laser beam into the eye and measure the reflection, or wavefront. The measurement can be done when the light hits the retina, when it reflects off the retina and exits the eye, or at both times.

"Higher order" sight aberrations include blurred or double vision.
"Higher order" sight aberrations include blurred or double vision.

While the results only take seconds to capture, it takes several minutes for the wavefront map — a picture of the wavefront — to be produced. The wavefront map is unique to each patient. Some compare it to a fingerprint, because no two patients will share the same wavefront map.

Aberrations can be lower order or higher order. Lower-order aberrations are conditions that are well known by most people: astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness, to name a few. The vast majority of people with vision problems will have lower-order aberrations.

By using a wavefront map in refractive surgeries, some higher-order aberrations can be permanently corrected.
By using a wavefront map in refractive surgeries, some higher-order aberrations can be permanently corrected.

Higher-order aberrations are less well known and cause problems such as double vision or blurry vision. Before aberrometry, these were more difficult to treat and were often left undiagnosed. With the wavefront map produced by an aberrometer, both higher- and lower-order aberrations can be easily diagnosed and treated. In addition, by using a wavefront map in refractive surgeries such as LASIK, some higher-order aberrations can be permanently corrected.

Patients suffering from lower-order aberrations may be prescribed corrective lenses.
Patients suffering from lower-order aberrations may be prescribed corrective lenses.

Most aberrometers are based on technology invented by Johannes Hartmann and modified by Roland Shack. A high-end aberrometer, not based on Hartmann-Shack technology, was designed by the Ophthonix Corporation. Called the Z-View® aberrometer, it can produce wavefront images with 10 times the resolution of Hartman-Shack-based aberrometers in approximately one minute. Ophthonix uses the higher-resolution pictures to produce its iZon® wavefront-guided lenses, which the company claims outperforms traditional glasses.

Discussion Comments

TurtleeyMC

It seems that working with a machine like this is for such a specific field. Only an optometrist needs to have such specialized machines for the work that they do. This aberrometer has got one job it's used for and only an eye doctor would have a use for this. It is probably a very expensive piece of equipment too. Not like a sphygmomanometer or a stethoscope.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • When light is received by the eye it will normally be focused on the retina.
      By: stockshoppe
      When light is received by the eye it will normally be focused on the retina.
    • "Higher order" sight aberrations include blurred or double vision.
      By: bellemedia
      "Higher order" sight aberrations include blurred or double vision.
    • By using a wavefront map in refractive surgeries, some higher-order aberrations can be permanently corrected.
      By: Peter Orsaeo Sr
      By using a wavefront map in refractive surgeries, some higher-order aberrations can be permanently corrected.
    • Patients suffering from lower-order aberrations may be prescribed corrective lenses.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      Patients suffering from lower-order aberrations may be prescribed corrective lenses.
    • The majority of individuals suffering from vision problems have lower aberrations.
      By: JPC-PROD
      The majority of individuals suffering from vision problems have lower aberrations.
    • Aberrations may be cause by inperfections in the cornea and lens of the eye.
      By: iko
      Aberrations may be cause by inperfections in the cornea and lens of the eye.