Prevalence of visual impairment and eye diseases in Arkansas.

Visual impairment and eye diseases are major public health concerns of the 21st century, particularly as our population ages. The prevalence of these conditions has not been described in Arkansas. We analyzed the vision module of the Arkansas behavioral risk factor surveillance system to estimate the burden due to these disabling conditions. The prevalence of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and cataract among Arkansans > 40 years was found to be 5.5% (95% CI, 4.7 - 6.3), 5.3% (95% CI, 4.5 - 6.0), and 13.7% (95% CI, 12.6 - 14.8), respectively. Vision related quality of life was also studied. Public health strategies to reduce the burden due to visual impairment and eye diseases are the need of the hour.

Intraocular pressure change after temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification in normal eyes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate short- and long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification in normal eyes. METHODS: The charts of 266 consecutive non-glaucoma patients who underwent uneventful cataract surgery were reviewed. We recorded preoperative and postoperative (1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years) IOP measurements as well as anatomical properties obtained using Zeiss Humphrey IOL Master (Zeiss Meditech, Dublin, California, USA). RESULTS: Mean IOP reduction after cataract surgery was 8.2%, 4.6%, 6.7% and 7.8% at 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years, respectively. Lens thickness was the only anatomical characteristic that correlated significantly with IOP decrease after surgery. CONCLUSION: Temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification results in a decrease in postoperative IOP that persists for 2 years following surgery.

Glare testing in patients with cataract after dilation.

PURPOSE: To learn whether dilating the pupil will have an impact on glare testing for cataract evaluation. DESIGN: Evaluation of diagnostic test. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-four adult patients at the Jones Eye Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. METHODS: One eye of each patient was randomized for study. The pupil size, visual acuity (VA) using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) acuity chart, and glare testing with the Brightness Acuity Tester (BAT) at the medium setting were performed. The patients' eyes were then dilated with all measurements repeated. Each patient was then graded for cataracts using the Lens Opacification Classification System III by an independent observer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: VA and BAT results. RESULTS: Compared with undilated BAT results, 29 of 54 patients (53.7%) lost 1 or more lines of vision during BAT testing after dilation. Undilated BAT results were predicted to within 1 line of accuracy in 44 of 54 patients (81.5%) by adjusting the dilated BAT result by the change in VA from dilation. With this method, results were predicted to within 2 lines of accuracy in 52 of 54 patients (96.3%). CONCLUSIONS: BAT results are affected by dilation half of the time and can be adjusted by the change in VA from dilation to predict undilated BAT results.