Association between intensity of posterior capsule opacification and contrast sensitivity

PURPOSE: To investigate the correlation between change in contrast sensitivity (CS) and difference in objective posterior capsule opacification (PCO) score before and after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. DESIGN: Prospective interventional case series. METHODS: CS (Functional Acuity Contrast Test, or FACT, chart), distance visual acuity (Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study [ETDRS] chart), and pupil size of 30 pseudophakic eyes with PCO of varying intensity were measured before and after capsulotomy. Digital retroillumination images were taken, and the area corresponding to the pupil size was evaluated with an automated PCO analysis program known as AQUA. RESULTS: The correlation between change in PCO score and change in CS was highest (r = 0.85) for row B on the FACT chart and lowest (r = 0.09) for row E. The correlation with change in ETDRS visual acuity was 0.57. CONCLUSIONS: Objective PCO assessment by an auto, mated image analysis system correlates well with PCO-induced loss of CS and is therefore an appropriate method for clinical studies on the development and prevention of PCO.