Mathematical blueprints of ocular aberrations measured with a wavefront aberrometer.

Each Zernike polynomial, called a mode, describes a certain type of shape, a certain three-dimensional surface. The Zernike polynomials are an infinite set, but in laser eye surgery only the first few are typically given much attention.

The second-order Zernike terms represent the conventional aberrations defocus (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism). Zernike aberrations above the second order are called high- or higher- order aberrations. The third-order Zernike terms are coma and trefoil. The fourth order Zernike terms include spherical aberration, and so on.

wavefront

aberrometry

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Last updated 30 Nov 2004.