Relationship of Objective Metrics for Quantifying Age-related Nuclear Cataracts with Visual Acuity and Phacodynamics

IntroductIon: An appropriate evaluation cataract degree is essential for deciding to proceed with surgery. Our purpose was to study the relationship between objective metrics for quantifying age-related nuclear cataracts with visual impairment and phacodynamics parameters. Methods: Thirty eyes (30 patients) with age-related nuclear cataract were submitted to phacoemulsification. The average lens density (0 to 100) was evaluated by using a rotating Scheimpflug system (Pentacam HR, Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) and the nuclear opalescence (NO) score was subjectively assessed using the Lens Opacities Classification System III (LOCS III). This different parameters were correlated with preoperative corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and cumulative dissipated energy (CDE). Results: The preoperative CDVA was correlated with the Scheimpflug-measured lens nuclear density value (r=0.617, p<0.01). The CDE was posi-tively correlated with the Scheimpflug-derived average density variable (r=0.681 p<0.01) than with LOCS III NO (r=0.661, p<0.01). Conclusion: The Scheimpflug-measured average density was correlated with subjective lens grading and preoperative CDVA. This metric also presented the highest positive correlation with phacodynamics.