The state and dynamics of the wavefront of the eye in children with different refractions engaged in regular sport activities (badminton)

Abstract

The paper is aimed at comparing the level of aberrations, structure of the wavefront, and its response to cycloplegia in children with different refractions before they started practicing badminton regularly and after a year’s duration of this practice.Material and methods. 40 children (80 eyes) with refractive errors from +6.63 to -6.75 D (average -1.28 ± 2.28 D) aged 7 to 11 years (average 9.24 ± 1.06 years) were examined before the practice, 6 months after practice start (38 children, 72 eyes) and after 1 year of badminton playing (27 children, 54 eyes). All patients underwent wavefront aberrometry before and after cycloplegia on an OPD-Scan III (Nidek) aberrometer. We analyzed Zernike coefficients up to the 12th order inclusive: vertical and horizontal slope (tilt 1, tilt 2), vertical and horizontal trefoil (trefoil 6, trefoil 9), vertical and horizontal coma (coma 7, coma 8), spherical aberration (SA), mean square deviation from the ideal wavefront (RMS).Results. SA in myopia was found to be negative, in hyperopia positive; tilt 1, tilt 2, trefoil 9, coma 7 in myopia were significantly higher, and coma 8 significantly lower than in hyperopia. The slope of the wavefront (tilt 1, tilt 2) in cycloplegia falls significantly in hyperopic eyes and does not change in myopic ones. The latter fact points to insufficient tension of Zinn ligaments in the myopic eye. Regular badminton practice results in significant changes in wavefront aberrations, indicating a strengthening of the ligaments of the lens and the normalization of the ciliary muscle tone.Conclusions. The structure of the wavefront in children with different refractions shows significant differences. Badminton helps strengthen the ligaments of the lens.