The effect of pterygium on front and back corneal astigmatism and aberrations in natural-light and low-light conditions

Abstract

Background To investigate the effect of different sizes of pterygium on the front and back corneal topography, refractive changes and aberrations in natural-light and low-light conditions. Methods Sixty subjects with unilateral primary nasal pterygium were enrolled in this study. All the patients’ uncorrected, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, corneal topographic aberration data in 3 mm and 7 mm areas were collected. The pterygium size was evaluated by the slit-lamp photography and Sirius Scheimpflug Analyzer. Results The front topographic astigmatism values, corneal total aberrations, and higher-order aberrations in 3 mm and 7 mm areas were higher in the pterygium group than those in the control group. The pterygium horizontal length and thickness were moderately to strongly correlated with astigmatism and RMS of aberrations, while pterygium vertical length showed no or just mild correlation with the corneal astigmatism and aberrations. Compared to the readings in 3 mm area, the front and back corneal astigmatism and aberrations were larger in 7 mm area. Conclusions Pterygium led to visual impairment by inducing astigmatism and aberrations. In low-light condition, the visual function worsened due to increased corneal astigmatism values and aberrations.