Functional visual acuity after neodymium:YAG laser capsulotomy in patients with posterior capsule opacification and good visual acuity preoperatively.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in functional visual acuity before and after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser capsulotomy.

SETTING

Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.

DESIGN

Case series.

METHODS

Eyes that had previous cataract surgery with a clinical diagnosis of central posterior capsule opacity requiring Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy were evaluated. All patients had refractive error and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) measurements; slitlamp microscopy examinations, including posterior capsule opacification evaluation; high-contrast visual acuity measured at 5 m using a Landolt chart; 10% low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA); functional visual acuity; wavefront examination; and a Schirmer test without anesthesia.

RESULTS

The study enrolled 9 patients (4 women, 5 men; 10 eyes) with a mean age of 57.3 years ± 7.0 (SD) (range 47 to 68 years). Although there was no significant difference in CDVA before and after Nd:YAG capsulotomy, there was a significant improvement in the mean functional visual acuity, from 0.18 ± 0.11 logMAR (range -0.03 to 0.31 logMAR) to 0.08 ± 0.07 logMAR (range -0.04 to 0.18 logMAR) (P < .05). The LCVA improved significantly after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy (P = .003). Higher-order aberrations and the root mean square of the 4th-order coefficients decreased significantly after capsulotomy, and these aberrations were significantly correlated with functional visual acuity and LCVA.

CONCLUSION

Results indicate that measurement of functional visual acuity is useful in assessing the quality of vision in patients who have Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery.