Straylight before and after phacoemulsification in eyes with preoperative corrected distance visual acuity better than 0.1 logMAR.

PURPOSE: To report the outcomes of changes in straylight before and after phacoemulsification in eyes with preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) better than 0.1 logMAR.

SETTING

Private refractive surgery clinic, Driebergen, the Netherlands.

DESIGN

Cohort study.

METHODS

Standard phacoemulsification with implantation of a monofocal or multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) was performed. Preoperative and 3-month postoperative straylight values, CDVA, and refractive error were compared.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 160 eyes (89 patients). The mean CDVA was 0.02 ± 0.05 logMAR (range -0.1 to 0.1 logMAR) preoperatively and 0.00 ± 0.04 logMAR (range -0.1 to 0.2 logMAR) postoperatively. The mean preoperative straylight was 1.21 ± 0.20 log(s) (range 0.80 to 1.74 log[s]) and 1.11 ± 1.16 log(s) (range 0.76 to 1.63 log[s]), respectively; the improvement was statistically significant. There was a correlation between high preoperative straylight values and postoperative improvement in straylight values.

CONCLUSIONS

In eyes with relatively good CDVA of 0.1 logMAR or better (decimal 0.8 or better; Snellen 20/25 or better), straylight improved by 0.10 log(s) after cataract surgery. A subgroup of 44 eyes had an improvement of more than 0.20 log(s), which is comparable to a 2-line improvement on the vision chart.