Straylight effects with aging and lens extraction.
OBJECTIVE
To assess possible gains and losses in straylight values among the population to consider straylight as added benefit of lens extraction.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional design, data from a multicenter study on visual function in automobile drivers were analyzed.


METHODS
On both eyes of 2,422 subjects, visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] in steps of 0.02 log units), straylight on the retina (psychophysical compensation comparison method), and lens opacity (slit-lamp scoring using the Lens Opacities Classification System III [LOCS III] system) were determined. Three groups were defined: 220 pseudophakic eyes, 3,182 noncataractous eyes (average LOCS III score, <1.5), and 134 cataractous eyes (average LOCS III score, >3.0).


RESULTS
Noncataractous straylight values increases strongly with age as: log(s) = constant + log(1 + (age / 65)(4)), doubling by the age of 65 years, and tripling by the age of 77 years. Population standard deviation around this age norm was approximately 0.10 log units. The cataract eyes (in this active driver group) had relatively mild straylight increase. In pseudophakia, straylight values may be very good, better even than in the noncataract group. Visual acuity and straylight were found to vary quite independently.


CONCLUSIONS
Lens extraction holds promise not only to improve on the condition of the cataract eye, but also to improve on the age-normal eye. Lens extraction potentially reverses the strong age increase in straylight value, quite independently from visual acuity.
Van Den Berg
Thomas J T P
TJ
The Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute/Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, The Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. t.j.vandenberg@nin.knaw.nl
Van Rijn
L J René
LJ
Michael
Ralph
R
Heine
Christian
C
Coeckelbergh
Tanja
T
Nischler
Christian
C
Wilhelm
Helmuth
H
Grabner
Günther
G
Emesz
Martin
M
Barraquer
Rafael I
RI
Coppens
Joris E
JE
Franssen
Luuk
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D001334:Automobile Driving; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019466:Glare; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000503:physiopathology; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*