Visual recovery under glare conditions following laser capsulotomy

The purpose of this study was to look at the changes in Snellen visual acuity and contrast sensitivity under standard and glare conditions before and after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. Contrast sensitivity was measured with a Pelli-Robson chart; a Brightness Acuity Tester was used as a glare source. Seventeen pseudophakic patients with no other ocular disease underwent a capsulotomy. Under standard conditions, 7 showed an improvement in visual acuity and 15 showed an improvement in contrast sensitivity. Under glare conditions, 10 patients showed an improvement in visual acuity and all 17 showed an improvement in contrast sensitivity. The improvement in average contrast sensitivity was greater under glare (0.330) than under standard conditions (0.210; p = 0.01). Contrast sensitivity measurement, particularly under glare conditions, provides additional information in the assessment of pseudophakes with opaque posterior capsules.