Clinical Study
Eye (2006) 20, 537–545. doi:10.1038/sj.eye.6701918; published online 20 May 2005
Effect of posterior capsular opacification removal on automated perimetry
The authors do not have any commercial interest in any product or procedure mentioned in this manuscript.Presented in part at the 80th Congress of the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology, Cordoba, Spain, September–October 2004.
J J García-Medina1, M García-Medina2, M T Arbona-Nadal1 and M D Pinazo-Duran3
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Doctor Peset, Valencia, Spain
- 2Department of Ophthalmology, Torrecardenas Hospital, Almería, Spain
- 3Head of the Ophthalmology Research Unit 'Santiago Grisolia', University Hospital Doctor Peset, Valencia, Spain
Correspondence: JJ García-Medina, Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital Doctor Peset, Avenida Gaspar Aguilar, 90, 46017 Valencia, Spain. Tel: +34 963 86 25 66; Fax: +34 963 86 25 00; E-mail: josegarciam@yahoo.com
Received 25 December 2004; Revised 21 March 2005; Accepted 21 March 2005; Published online 20 May 2005.
Abstract
Purpose
Although posterior capsular opacification (PCO) is a common phenomenon in a considerable number of ophthalmologic patients, no prospective controlled trials assessing its influence on automated perimetry exist. This technique continues as a standard in the diagnosis of glaucoma and neuro-ophthalmological diseases. The aim of the present report is to investigate the effect of PCO on automated visual field examination.
Methods
A total of 26 PCO affected eyes of 26 patients had Humphrey SITA standard (program 24-2) immediately before, and between 1 and 8 weeks after Neodymium : YAG capsulotomy. The effect of learning associated with repeated testing was controlled with automated perimetry before enrolment and visual fields of the fellow eye. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and global perimetric pre- and post-laser indices were compared using the Student's t-test for paired samples. Correlation and linear regression analyses were also performed.
Results
BCVA and mean deviation (MD) improved following capsulotomy. Pattern standard deviation (PSD), an indicator of localized defects in the field, also improved significantly when PCO was solved. Moreover, a strong association among BCVA, MD, and PSD was shown both prior to and after capsulotomy.
Conclusion
PCO is a heterogeneous mean opacity. This polymorphism may alter visual field results, and may even simulate the perimetric behaviour of other pathologies such as glaucoma. Consequently, the presence of PCO should be considered in the interpretation of any automated perimetry in pseudophakic patients. In addition, the values obtained before capsulotomy may partially predict the values obtained after capsulotomy.
Keywords:
posterior capsular opacification, capsulotomy, visual field, automated perimetry, Humphrey
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