Straylight in clinical practice

Abstract

AbstractStraylight is an optical phenomenon where light is scattered in the eye. This causes a veil of light over the retina and thereby reduces the contrast of the image projected on the retina. Clinically, it may cause disability glare where people are blinded by a sun that sits low in the sky or by headlights of upcoming cars at night. Various ocular pathologies may cause an increase in straylight in the eye. Examples are cataract, corneal dystrophies, corneal scars, vitreous opacities, and opacifications of the intraocular lens. However, patients are not always aware that their complaints are (at least partly) due to increased straylight. In addition, it is not always recognized by clinicians that patients are bothered by straylight. Furthermore, interestingly, cataract surgery may actually increase straylight in the eye when surgery is performed too early. In this presentation, I will focus on various ocular pathologies that may cause increased straylight, and how to use straylight in clinical decision making.