Straylight value depending on the location of lens opacity and utility of straylight measurement in deciding cataract surgery

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the difference of straylight value depending on the location of lens opacity and to study whether the straylight measurement is useful in deciding the surgery of early cataract. Methods 139 cataractous eyes were classified into posterior subcapsular opacity type, anterior subcapsular opacity type and diffuse nucleosclerosis type. Straylight values of each groups were measured. Straylight values of 28 patients(28 eyes) who complained visual disturbance despite good visual acuity were measured and compared with 28 control eyes. Postoperative straylight values and best corrected visual acuities of 28 patients were measured and compared with the preoperative values. Results Posterior subcapsular opacity group showed significantly high straylight values(p=0.000). Mean straylight values of 28 eyes(28 patients) and 28 control eyes were 2.04±0.91 and 1.56±0.29 respectively(p=0.002). This was well matched to the difference of self‐reported visual quality scores of each group(45.1 points and 29.8 points). Postoperative straylight values decreased significantly than preoperative straylight values(p=0.000) in 28 patients. Self‐reported visual quality was well related to the decrease of straylight values(from 45.1 points to 28.2 points). Conclusion Straylight value was significantly high in posterior subcapsular lens opacity. Straylight is found to have added value for visual quality assessment and it can be useful to determine the time of cataract surgery in early cataractous eyes.