title: Light scatter in aging and cataractous human lens.
abstract: We measured back light scattering of the human lens with the Lens Opacity Meter 701 in order to determine whether it can be used for objective assessment of lens opacities in various types of cataracts. One-hundred and twenty-seven eyes of 127 individuals were examined including 43 healthy volunteers in various age groups and 84 patients with cortical, nuclear, posterior subcapsular or mixed lens opacities. Almost 90% of the total variation in the light scatter values was accounted for by age in non-cataractous eyes. Mean scatter value of every cataract group was statistically significantly higher than that of age matched healthy controls (p less than 0.0001). Highest scatter values were measured in cortical cataracts while the mean values of other types of cataract were not statistically significantly different from each other. The regression between light scatter and visual acuity was statistically significant for each cataract group. However, large variation of visual acuity was found with scatter values below 60. The results indicate that the Interzeag Lens Opacity Meter is able to identify cataractous and non-cataractous eyes and discern at least advanced cortical cataracts from other types of lens opacities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Siik
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Airaksinen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuulonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014792:Visual Acuity