Stray light in photorefractive keratectomy for myopia

History of ocular straylight measurement: A review

The earliest studies on 'disability glare' date from the early 20(th) century. The condition was defined as the negative effect on visual function of a bright light located at some distance in the visual field. It was found that for larger angles (>1 degree) the functional effect corresponded precisely to the effect of a light with a luminosity equal to that of the light that is perceived spreading around such a bright source. This perceived spreading of light was called straylight and by international standard disability glare was defined as identical to straylight. The phenomenon was recognized in the ophthalmological community as an important aspect of the quality of vision and attempts were made to design instruments to measure it. This must not be confused with instruments that assess light spreading over small distances (<1 degree), as originating from (higher order) aberrations and defocus. In recent years a new instrument has gained acceptance (C-Quant) for objective and controllable assessment of straylight in the clinical setting. This overview provides a sketch of the historical development of straylight measurement, as well as the results of studies on the origins of straylight (or disability glare) in the normal eye, and on findings on cataract (surgery) and corneal conditions.

Optical quality after myopic photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis: comparison using a double-pass system

PURPOSE

To use a double-pass system to compare the optical quality after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for mild to moderate myopia.

SETTING

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Terrassa, Barcelona Institute of Ocular Microsurgery, Barcelona, Spain.

DESIGN

Comparative case series.

METHODS

Optical quality was assessed with a clinical double-pass system preoperatively and 3 months after PRK or LASIK. The modulation transfer function (MTF), retinal image quality parameters (MTF cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio), and intraocular scattering (objective scatter index [OSI]) were calculated.

RESULTS

This study evaluated 34 eyes that had PRK and 55 eyes that had LASIK. Both PRK and LASIK had a statistically significant impact on retinal image quality, although no significant differences between the techniques were observed. The MTF at 30 cycles per degree decreased by a factor of 1.50 in the PRK group and by a factor of 1.32 in the LASIK group. The MTF cutoff frequency decreased by a factor of 1.04 in the PRK group and by a factor of 1.06 in the LASIK group. The Strehl ratio decreased by a factor of 1.10 and 1.07, respectively. Photorefractive keratectomy and LASIK increased the objective scatter index by factors of 1.48 and 1.57, respectively. Significant correlations between the preoperative refraction and the OSI were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal image quality was similarly reduced with PRK and LASIK, with no significant differences between the 2 methods. Some PRK patients had a residual refractive error that might have been related to corneal-wound healing still present 3 months postoperatively.

Straylight and contrast sensitivity after corneal refractive therapy

PURPOSE

To compare intraocular straylight and contrast sensitivity determined before corneal refractive therapy and after 15 days and 1 month of treatment.

METHODS

A single-center, prospective, and longitudinal study was performed in 30 subjects undergoing corneal refractive therapy. In each subject, high-contrast visual acuity (HCVA), low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA), straylight, and contrast sensitivity were determined at baseline and after 15 days and 1 month after the treatment. Straylight was measured using the van den Berg straylight meter (third generation). Contrast sensitivity was determined under both photopic and mesopic conditions using the VCTS 6500 instrument (Vision Contrast Test System). EDTRS charts (logMAR units) were used to measure HCVA and LCVA.

RESULTS

Straylight (mean ± standard deviation) significantly fell from baseline (0.94 ± 0.14) to the values recorded at 1 month (0.85 ± 0.11, p = 0.009). Photopic contrast sensitivity remained stable yet mesopic contrast sensitivity measured at high spatial frequencies was significantly reduced. No correlations between intraocular straylight and contrast sensitivity, HCVA, or LCVA were observed 15 days and 1 month after corneal refractive therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest improved intraocular straylight readings 1 month after starting the treatment, although the changes observed in straylight could not be related to changes in mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivity or HCVA and LCVA. Mesopic contrast sensitivity was more affected by the treatment intervention than photopic contrast sensitivity.

The effect of iris-fixated foldable phakic intraocular lenses on retinal straylight

PURPOSE

To determine changes in straylight after iris-fixated phakic intraocular lens implantation (pIOL) and to investigate the relationship between straylight and several preoperative and postoperative variables.

DESIGN

Institutional, prospective cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Artiflex (Ophtec B.V.) pIOL implantation was performed in 61 eyes (36 patients). Straylight values were measured before surgery and 3 months after surgery using the Oculus C-Quant (Oculus Optikgeräte). Furthermore, correlations were analyzed between straylight and the following parameters: keratometry, axial length, spherical equivalent, astigmatism, pIOL power, best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, and pupil size.

RESULTS

Mean straylight decreased from 1.18 ± 0.17 log units before surgery to 1.13 ± 0.17 after surgery (P = .016). Higher preoperative straylight values were associated with larger postoperative decreases in straylight (r = -0.534; P < .001). Higher postoperative straylight values were correlated to higher axial length (r = 0.444; P = .001) and lower keratometry values in diopters (r = -0.414; P = .001). After regression analysis, only axial length was found to be an independent predictor of preoperative and postoperative straylight (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively). After correcting for the axial length of an emmetropic eye (23.44 mm), all straylight correlations disappeared, indicating that an increase in distance from cornea to retina explains the increase in straylight values in longer eyes.

CONCLUSIONS

Retinal straylight was reduced significantly after Artiflex pIOL implantation. Besides age, axial length was the only predictor of preoperative and postoperative straylight values. The increased tissue length light has to pass from cornea to retina, might explain the increase in straylight values in longer eyes.

Straylight values 1 month after laser in situ keratomileusis and photorefractive keratectomy

PURPOSE

To compare straylight values before and 1 month after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).

SETTING

Private practice refractive surgery center, Delft, The Netherlands.

METHODS

In a prospective nonrandomized study, straylight values of 21 patients (42 eyes) were measured using the van den Berg straylight meter (third generation) during intake sessions at a refractive surgery clinic. Of the 21 patients, 12 were scheduled for LASIK (6 patients, 12 eyes) or PRK (6 patients, 12 eyes). At the 1-month follow-up visit, straylight values were measured again in the same manner and compared with the preoperative straylight values.

RESULTS

Overall, there was no statistically significant increase in straylight values compared with the preoperative values 1 month after LASIK or PRK (P>.05). Individual straylight values increased in some cases, however, and the values correlated well with decreased quality of vision and changes in the eye examination.

CONCLUSION

Straylight values 1 month after LASIK or PRK did not increase on average, although individual straylight values increased in some cases.

Measurement of stray light and glare: comparison of Nyktotest, Mesotest, stray light meter, and computer implemented stray light meter

AIM

To evaluate the properties of devices for measuring stray light and glare: the Nyktotest, Mesotest, "conventional" stray light meter and a new, computer implemented version of the stray light meter.

METHODS

112 subjects, divided in three groups: (1) young subjects without any eye disease; (2) elderly subjects without any eye disease, and (3) subjects with (early) cataract in at least one eye. All subjects underwent a battery of glare and stray light tests, measurement of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, refraction, and LOCS III cataract classification. Subjects answered a questionnaire on perceived disability during driving.

RESULTS

Repeatability values were similar for all glare/stray light tests. Validity (correlation with LOCS III and questionnaire scores), discriminative ability (ability to discriminate between the three groups), and added value (to measurement of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) were all superior for both stray light meters. Results of successive measurements are interrelated for the conventional but not the new stray light meter. This indicates a better resistance to fraud for the latter device.

CONCLUSIONS

The new computer implemented stray light meter is the most promising device for future stray light measurements.

Effect of methods of myopia correction on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and depth of focus

PURPOSE

To psychophysically measure spherical and irregular aberrations in patients with various types of myopia correction.

SETTING

Laboratory of Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.

METHODS

Three groups of patients with low myopia correction (spectacles, soft contact lens, and Intacs) and 4 groups with high myopia correction (spectacles, rigid contact lens, Artisan claw lens, and laser in situ keratomileusis [LASIK]) had through-focus contrast sensitivity measurements to establish the myopic shift and depth of focus. From these 2 parameters, spherical and irregular aberrations were determined using theoretical eye models and geometric optics. Visual acuity, stray light, and predictability were also studied.

RESULTS

There were no differences in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) or best corrected contrast sensitivity between the low myopia groups. The Intacs group had a significantly larger depth of focus (P<.05). The results in the soft contact lens group were comparable to those in a human eye model with an average amount of spherical and irregular aberrations. The LASIK group had worse uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected contrast sensitivity than the spectacles, rigid contact lens, and Artisan claw lens groups (P<.05) due to the amount of spherical and irregular aberrations present after LASIK. The low and high myopia spectacles groups had average amounts of spherical and irregular aberrations.

CONCLUSIONS

Neither surgical techniques nor contact lenses resulted in BCVA or best corrected contrast sensitivity that surpassed the values measured in the best corrected spectacles groups. The Artisan claw lens performed better than LASIK in UCVA, predictability, and best corrected contrast sensitivity.