Relevant Factors of Objective Forward Scattering in Eyes with Cataract and Its Change after Cataract Surgery

Abstract

It is essential to measure forward scattering in order to accurately grasp visual function in eyes with cataract. Although objective measurements of forward scattering are reproducible, there have been a few detailed studies on objective forward scattering in a large cohort of cataract patients. We aimed to clarify relevant factors of objective forward scattering and its change after cataract surgery. We enrolled 192 cataractous eyes of 192 patients (age, 71.3±9.2 years). We determined age, gender, uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities (UDVA, CDVA), manifest refraction, grade of nuclear sclerosis, objective scattering index (OSI), log (s), and ocular higher-order aberrations (HOAs). We found explanatory variables relevant to OSI to be, logMAR CDVA (p<0.0001, partial regression coefficient B=5.917) and log (s) (p=0.0006, B=0.911) (adjusted R²=0.333). No significant association was observed with other factors including ocular HOAs. Eyes with worse CDVA and higher log (s) are more predisposed to show higher OSI. Cataract surgery induced a significant decrease in OSI (p<0.001). It is suggested that objective forward scattering is significantly associated with CDVA and subjective forward scattering, but is not highly associated with ocular HOAs, and that cataract surgery induced a significant improvement in objective forward scattering.