Association between intensity of posterior capsule opacification and contrast sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the correlation between change in contrast sensitivity (CS) and difference in objective posterior capsule opacification (PCO) score before and after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy.


METHODS
Prospective interventional case series.


METHODS
CS (Functional Acuity Contrast Test, or FACT, chart), distance visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] chart), and pupil size of 30 pseudophakic eyes with PCO of varying intensity were measured before and after capsulotomy. Digital retroillumination images were taken, and the area corresponding to the pupil size was evaluated with an automated PCO analysis program known as AQUA.


RESULTS
The correlation between change in PCO score and change in CS was highest (r = 0.85) for row B on the FACT chart and lowest (r = 0.09) for row E. The correlation with change in ETDRS visual acuity was 0.57.


CONCLUSIONS
Objective PCO assessment by an automated image analysis system correlates well with PCO-induced loss of CS and is therefore an appropriate method for clinical studies on the development and prevention of PCO.
Buehl
Wolf
W
Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
Sacu
Stefan
S
Findl
Oliver
O
D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology; D011680:Pupil / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology