[The influence of sodium hyaluronate solution and artificial tears on higher-order aberrations].

PURPOSE: To investigate the influence of sodium hyaluronate solution (HA) and artificial tears (AT) on higher-order aberrations (HOAs). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty four eyes of 24 normal subjects and 11 eyes of 11 dry eye patients were examined. Cornea and ocular wavefront aberrations (total, spherical-like and coma-like) were measured with a Hartmann-Shack wavefront aberrometer before and after 0.1% or 0.3% HA, AT. The consecutively obtained data of the cornea and ocular HOAs were analyzed in the central 4-mm diameter for coma-like, spherical-like and total HOAs. Average HOAs, as well as fluctuation index (FI) and stability index (SI) of the HOAs over time were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In normal subjects, the AVE of all aberration parameters and FI showed an increase depending on viscosity of the HA (p < 0.001). After AT and 0.1% HA treatment the cornea aberration of the dry eye patients changed from a sawtooth pattern to a stable pattern. CONCLUSION: Cornea HOAs decreased, and the optical characteristics showed improvement after AT and 0.1% HA in the dry eye patients. HOAs increased depending on the viscosity of the HA, and optical stability worsened.