[Changes of retinal light sensitivity after YAG-laser capsulotomy].

Background: The aim of this prospective study was firstly to investigate the changes of retinal light sensitivity of the central visual field in patients with posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after YAG-laser capsulotomy and secondly to determine the correlation between changes in retinal light sensitivity and patient's age and the diameter of posterior laser capsulotomy.

Patients And Methods: Our study includes 25 eyes (25 patients) with PCO after phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. In all patients YAG-laser capsulotomy was performed. In all patients, a threshold visual field analysis was carried out with the C 30 - 2 programme of the automated Humphrey Field Analyzer before and one month after the procedure.

Results: In all patients a significant improvement of visual acuity was observed one month after capsulotomy (p = 0,00003). One month after YAG-laser treatment, a significant improvement of retinal light sensitivity in the central visual field was also observed. The average MD (mean deviation) before the procedure was - 6.05 db (+/- 3.2, max. - 11.7, min. + 2.17) and after the procedure - 3.61 db (+/- 3.7, max. - 10.87, min. + 0.71). Before laser capsulotomy obvious areas of reduced retinal sensitivity in 19 of 25 eyes (76 %) were found with MD p values of less than 5 %. One month after the procedure the MD p values were less than 5 % only in 8 eyes (32 %). The improvement in MD was statistically significant (p = 0,0002). No correlation was established between the improvement of retinal light sensitivity and patient's age or the size of the capsulotomy.

Conclusions: Our study shows that the improvement of retinal light sensitivity is significant after YAG-laser capsulotomy and not depends on patient age or capsulotomy size.