Measurement of accommodative amplitude using a wavefront aberrometer.

OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare the accommodative amplitude of Filipino patients with different accommodative conditions using a wavefront aberrometer.
METHODS: A total of 120 eyes of 67 patients seen in a private eye center were included and divided into two groups (phakic and pseudophakic). After undergoing routine ophthalmologic examination that included manifest refraction and visual acuity testing, accomodative amplitude was measured using the iTraceTM wavefront aberrometer. Comparison of the measurements was made between the accommodative amplitude of phakic pre-presbyopes and presbyopes, and between eyes implanted with monofocal and accommodating intraocular lenses (IOLs).
RESULTS: The mean age of the pre-presbyopes was 27 years, presbyopes 50 years, monofocal IOL 69 years and accommodating IOL 67 years. The mean accommodative amplitude of the pre-presbyopes was 1.64 ± 1.06D, presbyopes 0.99 ± 0.42D, monofocal IOL 0.36 ± 1.16D, and accommodating IOL 0.94 ± 0.89D. The pre-presbyopes had a higher accommodative amplitude than the presbyopes (p=0.008), while the accommodating IOL subgroup had a higher amplitude than the monofocal IOL subgroup (p=0.02). Increasing age was correlated with decreasing amplitude in the phakic group (r2=0.926). There was no correlation between refractive error and amplitude of accommodation in the phakic and pseudophakic groups (r2=0.02 for both groups).
CONCLUSION: The wavefront aberrometer is a reliable tool in objectively measuring accommodative amplitude. Pre-presbyopes and accommodating IOLs were shown to have higher amplitudes of accommodation than presbyopes and monofocal IOLs.