To put this result into more clinical terms, we converted wavefront variance into its dioptric equivalent by computing the RMS error of spherical wavefronts of various curvatures. This allows us to plot dioptric equivalent on the right-hand ordinate. The results indicate that the magnitude of aberrations increased immediately after surgery and reached a peak value 3 days after surgery. A modest recovery then followed before optical quality stabilized. 6 Change in wave aberration following surgery.
Units are micrometers.
Contour interval is 0.5 micrometer. Second order terms not included. Recovery of wavefront error following surgery. This asymmetry, which was evident in both eyes, may indicate some asymmetric healing following surgery. For example, the physical pressure of the upper and lower lids on the cornea during recovery may compress the weakened tissue and affect the way it heals.