Effect on laser-ablation algorithms of reflection losses and nonnormal incidence on the anterior cornea

Abstract

In this paper, we provide an analytic expression for an adjustment factor in ablation algorithms for photorefractive laser surgery which take into account reflection losses and the nonnormal incidence on the cornea. We evaluate the influence of this factor on certain ocular parameters, calculating alterations in the radius of anterior cornea and corneal asphericity when we use the algorithm given by Munnerlyn’s paraxial formula. Our data indicate that this adjustment factor should be considered in the ablation algorithms that are currently being proposed in customized corneal ablation and that need great accuracy for the correction of eye aberrations.