Improved visualization through cataracts using intravitreal illumination.

It is known that intravitreal illumination during vitrectomy improves both contrast and resolution for the surgeon by eliminating backscatter and reflections from both cornea and lens. The experiments described in this paper set out to quantitate the amount of improvement in these optical parameters using simulated intravitreal illumination when a target was viewed behind a cataractous lens. The results show an almost fourfold increase in contrast and a twofold increase in resolution when the illumination is placed behind the cataract, ie, intravitreal illumination vs external microscope illumination where the illumination is placed between the cataract and the observer.