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Clinical relevance of straylight in patients with retinitis pigmentosa
Author(s) -
VAN BREE MCJ,
VAN DEN BORN LI,
VAN DEN BERG TJTP
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.4675.x
Subject(s) - ophthalmology , retinitis pigmentosa , medicine , visual acuity , retinal , contrast (vision) , optometry , optics , physics
Purpose The importance of straylight derives from the fact that it reduces retinal sensitivity. This may be particularly relevant in conditions with retinal dysfunction, such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). Moreover in RP often early in life PSC cataract develops. The question of this study is whether straylight substantially contributes to visual disability in RP patients, potentially aggravated due to the combination of retinal degradation and increased straylight from cataract formation. In addition, straylight was used to predict possible benefit of (early) cataract surgery. Methods Twenty‐five RP patients scheduled for cataract extraction (CE) participated. Before and after CE, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in logMAR, contrast sensitivity (CS) in log(CS), temporal contrast sensitivity (TCS) in log(TCS), and straylight (log of the straylight parameter s, log[s]) were tested. TCS, or flicker sensitivity, was tested with a new test, using the C‐Quant hardware. TCS measurement was performed to assess foveal function isolated from the eye’s optical quality. Results Average pre CE log(s) value was 1.72, corresponding to a factor 6 straylight increase as compared to a healthy, young eye. Functionally significant improvement defined as >0.2 log, was only found for log(s). Only log(s) improvement was related to pre CE values. LogMAR and log(TCS) were correlated (pre CE r(19)= .57, p< .01; post CE ρ(19)= .47, p< .05). Pre and post CE log(TCS) values were similar (p= .14). Conclusion Straylight effects of cataract may substantially aggravate visual disability in RP patients, whereas BCVA may (not yet) be affected. Loss of BCVA may reflect foveal function rather than cataract. For proper CE referral straylight must be assessed.