RESUMO
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.
