Clinical comparison of 6 aberrometers. Part 1: Technical specifications.

PURPOSE To provide a detailed assessment of the techniques, technical features, and practical use of 6 aberrometers made available to our institution from September 2002 to January 2004. SETTING Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. METHODS A number of technical and practical parameters are listed for the Visual Function Analyzer (Tracey), the OPD-scan (ARK 10000; Nidek), the Zywave (Bausch & Lomb), the WASCA (Carl Zeiss Meditec), the MultiSpot Hartmann-Shack device, and the Allegretto Wave Analyzer including working principles, data acquisition, aberrometer alignment, wavefront calculation, and data analysis. Operator and patient comfort as well as practical advantages and disadvantages are discussed. CONCLUSION All devices met at least half the following parameters: alignment, correction for source wavelength, data averaging, measurement quality check, and inhibition of accommodation.