title: Effect of posterior capsule opacification on macular sensitivity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) on macular sensitivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Macular sensitivity, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and PCO intensity were evaluated before and after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy in pseudophakic eyes with clinically significant PCO that had a healthy macula or dry age-related macular degeneration (ARMD). Macular sensitivity was determined using the fundus-related Microperimeter 1 (Nidek) in a central field of 10 degrees. The intensity of the PCO was assessed objectively in the central 3.0 mm area (score 0 to 10) using quantification software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After Nd:YAG capsulotomy, both groups had a significant improvement in BCVA and mean macular sensitivity; the change in the mean logMAR value was -0.26 in the healthy macula group and -0.23 in the dry ARMD group and the change in mean macular sensitivity, 2.5 dB and 2.0 dB, respectively. Before Nd:YAG capsulotomy, significant correlations were observed between PCO values, BCVA, and macular sensitivity in the healthy macula group only (P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy improved BCVA and macular sensitivity. The PCO scores correlated well with the PCO-induced decrease in BCVA and with PCO-induced loss of macular sensitivity. Functional macular mapping indicated an overall loss of macular sensitivity in patients with dry ARMD. There was no significant association between PCO values and macular sensitivity in eyes with dry ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Varga
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sacu
authors.forename: Pia Veronika
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Vécsei-Marlovits
authors.forename: Sibylla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richter-Mueksch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Neumayer
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weingessel
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Findl
authors.forename: Ursula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schmidt-Erfurth
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000502:physiology*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D058609:Visual Field Tests / Q000379:methods; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology*