[Presentation of an apparatus to measure lens opacity: Opacity Lensmeter 701. Preliminary study]

The Opacity Lensmeter is a new instrument permitting the measurement of lens opacity. This preliminary report was performed on 98 patients (195 phakic eyes). Age, sex, lens opacity and retinal sensibility (using automated perimetry with the Octopus 2000 R) were assessed. A correlation between age and lens opacity was found in a simple linear regression model on 186 eyes (available data): opacity = 0.00423 square (age) + 5.18. An another more precise correlation was found in 138 eyes, excluding those with anterior segment abnormalities and corneal opacity: opacity = 0.0035 square (age) + 5.17. No statistical differences were observed between lens opacity and sex nor were left/right differences significant. No conclusion was possible concerning retinal sensibility and measured lens opacity because of the small sample (25 eyes). This easily handled instrument may be helpful in daily practice to evaluate opacity in lens pathology. Furthermore, it should be useful for the interpretation of the respective role of cataract and retinal damage in P.O.A.G. loss of retinal sensibility.