Impact on visual function from light scattering and glistenings in intraocular lenses, a long-term study.

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact on visual function from light scattering and glistenings in intraocular lenses (IOLs) in patients who had cataract surgery 10 years previously.

SETTING

Eye clinic, Norrlands university hospital, Umeå, Sweden.

METHODS

One hundred and three patients, who had phacoemulsification with implantation of Acrysof(®) MA60BM IOLs 10 years previously, were evaluated with best corrected visual acuity (VA), and low contrast visual acuity (LCVA) 10% and 2.5%. The light scattering from the IOLs was measured by Scheimpflug photography. The degree of glistenings was also quantified at the slit-lamp. Eyes with coexisting pathology that could affect VA and LCVA were excluded.

RESULTS

The patients were divided into various groups according to the degree of light scattering and grade of glistenings. In two subsets of patients, paired data from the patients' eyes were analysed. It was not possible to detect any significant impact on visual function, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and LCVA 10% and 2.5% in eyes with a more pronounced light scattering or a higher grade of glistenings seen at the slit-lamp. The correlation between IOL dioptric power and both the total light scattering of the IOL, and the subjective grading of the intensity of the glistenings at the slit-lamp was statistically significant (r(P)=0.25; p=0.012; r(S)=0.23; p=0.019, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Most patients in this case series operated 10 years previously had severe glistenings and a high level of light scattering from their intraocular lenses. No detectable impact on BCVA, LCVA 10% and 2.5% was found.