Issue: June 2016
May 08, 2016
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Nd:YAG capsulotomy elevates vision quality

Issue: June 2016
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NEW ORLEANS — Patients with posterior capsule opacity after cataract surgery who underwent Nd:YAG capsulotomy had better visual quality postoperatively, according to a study presented here.

“This is a new technology that we are using more and more in our clinic, and we’re understanding that this is something that can help us make clinical decisions, but in retrospect, it can help us justify those clinical decisions,” Jake C. McMillin, MD, said at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting.

Jake C. McMillin

The retrospective study included 13 eyes of patients with posterior capsule opacity and vision complaints. Patients were treated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy after cataract surgery.

Researchers evaluated corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), ocular scatter index (OSI), modulation transfer function (MTF) and Strehl ratio, a comparison of luminance in the aberrated eye to an unaberrated optical system.

Mean decrease in OSI was 2.2 (P = .011). Mean CDVA decreased by 0.1 logMAR (P = .04).

“Our MTF was also significant. We realized that an increase in MTF correlates with better visual function,” McMillin said.

McMillin said that an improvement in OSI “does not always correlate with an improvement in visual acuity.”

“Some of our patients actually had no improvement in visual acuity but stated better vision quality,” McMillin said. “Vision is a complex sense, and we have to use all the tools available that we have to understand what a patient actually sees.”– by Nhu Te

Reference:

McMillin J. Objective evaluation of vision before and after Nd:YAG capsulotomy in eyes with posterior capsule opacity after cataract surgery using ocular scatter index. Presented at: American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery meeting; May 6-10, 2016; New Orleans.

Disclosure: McMillin reports no relevant financial disclosures.