YAG vitreolysis for the treatment of symptomatic floaters: an objective analysis of quality of vision using wavefront aberrometry

Session Details

Session Title: Moderated Poster Session: New and Interesting

Venue: Poster Village: Pod 1

First Author: : I.Singh USA

Co Author(s): :                           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To perform an objective analysis of quality of vision in patients undergoing YAG vitreolysis for the treatment of symptomatic floaters.

Setting:

The Eye Centers of Racine and Kenosha, USA of America.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, 36 eyes of 24 symptomatic patients who complained of reduced daily functioning due to floaters were diagnosed with amorphous type floaters located near the central visual axis. These patients underwent YAG vitreolysis using the Ultra Q Reflex YAG laser (Ellex, Adelaide, Australia). Pre-op and within six weeks after vitreolysis, patients were scanned prior to dilation using the iTrace wavefront aberrometer (TRACEY Technologies, Texas, USA) to assess quality of vision objectively. Pre- and post-operative scans were reviewed and compared for changes in higher order aberrations (HOAs), modular transfer function (MTF) curves, and dysfunctional lens index (DLI).

Results:

Analysis with wavefront aberrometry demonstrated that HOAs were reduced in all 36 eyes, with a mean reduction of 53%. The greatest reduction was observed in trefoil and then coma (mean total HOA pre-op: .233, mean post-op: 0.11). In MTF analysis, the mean area under the curve increased by 40% (mean pre-op: .290, mean post-op: 4.10). The mean DLI improved from 5.3 to 8.9. There were no adverse events reported and Snellen visual acuity did not change during postoperative exams.

Conclusions:

In this pilot study that employed wavefront aberrometry to objectively evaluate quality of vision, results demonstrate that YAG vitreolysis can potentially improve quality of vision in patients with symptomatic floaters. A larger study is currently underway to corroborate and expand upon these findings.

Financial Disclosure:

receives consulting fees, retainer, or contract payments from a company producing, developing or supplying the product or procedure presented