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. Purpose:  To study the relationship between lens opacity and intraocular straylight, visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Methods:  We investigated 2422 drivers in five clinics in different European Union (EU) member states aged between 20 and 89 years as part of a European study into the prevalence of visual function disorders in drivers. We measured visual acuity [Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart], contrast sensitivity (Pelli–Robson chart) and intraocular straylight (computerized straylight meter). Lens opacities were graded with the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS) without pupillary dilation. Participants answered the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire – 25. Results:  Intraocular straylight was related more strongly to LOCS score than to both visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were correlated to each other well, but to intraocular straylight to a much lesser extent. Self‐reported visual quality was best related to contrast sensitivity; night driving difficulty was best related to visual acuity. Conclusion:  Straylight is found to have added value for visual function assessment in drivers, whereas if visual acuity is known contrast sensitivity has limited added value.

PURPOSE:To compare different methods for the assessment of disability glare sensitivity in the elderly, to arrive at an objective assessment of the condition of the eye. To delineate the importance of straylight values in vision. METHODS: Three groups of subjects were studied: 1) Young subjects without any eye disease, 2) elderly subjects without any eye disease and 3) elderly subjects with (early) cataract in at least one eye. All subjects underwent 2 glare tests, 2 straylight tests, ETDRS visual acuity test, Pelli Robson contrast sensitivity test, refraction, LOCS III cataract classification. Straylight was quantified by means of the straylight parameter s. RESULTS: Repeatability, discriminative ability, and added value as compared to visual acuity were low for the glare tests and good for the straylight measurements. For young normal subjects, with log(s)=0.9, the standard glare situation with low beams gives a contrast reduction of 1.3, whereas for the healthy 77 year olds this increases to 2. With cataract hardly affecting visual acuity, log(s) can be as high as 1.8, resulting in a contrast reduction of 3.4. CONCLUSION: Straylight measurement is of relevance for the assessment of the glare-related hindrance during driving, and can be used to objectify complaints and aid in the decision-making regarding cataract surgery. (J Optom 2009;2:112-118 ©2009 Spanish Council of Optometry) KEY WORDS: straylight; glare sensitivity; disability glare; CIE; aging; driving. RESUMEN OBJETIVO:Comparar diferentes métodos para medir la sensibilidad al deslumbramiento perturbador en sujetos de edades avanzadas, con el fin además de lograr una valoración objetiva de las afecciones oculares. Definir la importancia que tiene la luz dispersa (parásita) sobre la visión. MÉTODOS: Se estudiaron tres grupos de sujetos: 1) Sujetos jóvenes sin ningún tipo de afección ocular, 2) sujetos de edad avanzada sin ningún tipo de afección ocular y 3) sujetos de edad avanzada con cataratas (incipientes) en, al menos, uno de los ojos. A todos los sujetos se les realizaron, entre otras, 2 pruebas de deslumbramiento y 2 pruebas de luz dispersa, se les midió la agudeza visual mediante optotipos ETDRS (siglas en inglés del Estudio sobre el tratamiento temprano de la retinopatía diabética), la sensibilidad al contraste con el test de Pelli-Robson, la refracción, y se clasificó la catarata (para sujetos del tercer grupo) utilizando el Sistema de Clasificación de Opacidades del Cristalino( o sus siglas en inglés, LOCS III). La luz dispersa (parásita) se cuantificó por medio del parámetro de luz dispersa s. RESULTADOS: La repetibilidad, la capacidad discriminativa, y el valor añadido, resultaron ser bajos para los tests de deslumbramiento pero buenos para las medidas de la luz dispersa (en comparación con los valores que proporciona la medida de la agudeza visual). Para los sujetos jóvenes sin patologías oculares, con log(s)=0,9, la situación habitual de deslumbramiento con haces bajos causa una reducción del contraste del 1,3, mientras que para l...

Improving the depth of focus by monocular implantation of a small-aperture optic caused statistically significant changes in all tested reading performance parameters except reading speed metrics in emmetropic presbyopic patients.

Cataract is not as highly prevalent in the elderly active driving population as in the general population, but is frequently present in drivers over 65 years of age. Lower prevalence of severe bilateral cataracts in countries with mandatory tests of visual functions of drivers suggest that this could be a suitable measure to detect and to reduce the number of active drivers with severe bilateral cataracts.