What is spherical aberration?

Spherical aberration is a visual effect that occurs when increased refraction of light rays strike a lens or a mirror. In laymans' terms, a spherical aberration is when your eyes see spheres around lights bouncing off reflective or magnifying surfaces, resulting in an imperfection of the produced image.

Spherical aberrations can occur from changes in the eye's anatomy or physiology. This includes changes caused by refractive eye surgery, or LASIK or PRK. The laser used in refractive eye surgery can sometimes undercorrect as the laser moves from the periphery of the eye into the center, where the hot spot treatment zone is.

Spherical aberrations are becoming less and less of an issue for those patients who are getting refractive surgery. This is because technological advancements in the instruments used in the surgery, and developments in the surgical procedure itself have customized the procedure markedly. Lasers are now pre-programmed to move from the periphery to the treatment zone in a more precise, more individualized manner, and thus, avoiding undercorrections. Less undercorrections mean less speherical aberrations as an unwanted side effect to laser eye surgery. For those patients who may have experienced spherical aberrations as a result of refractive laser eye surgery may consider consulting their eye surgeon regarding any techniques or solutions they might have to minimize the effects of the spherical aberrations.