Jooeun Lee

Higher-order aberrations induced by nuclear cataract

PURPOSE: To measure higher‐order aberrations (HOAs) in the entire eye and in the internal optics (lens) in patients with nuclear cataract. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. METHODS: A visual function analyzer that combines ray‐tracing aberrometry and corneal topography was used to measure wavefront aberrations in 33 eyes of 20 patients who had nuclear cataract. RESULTS: The wavefront maps of the entire eye were similar to those of the internal optics. The average root mean square (RMS) of HOAs in the entire eye and in the internal optics was 1.59 μm and 2.13 μm, respectively, with an optical zone of 6.5 mm. The predominant HOA in the entire eye and the internal optics was coma; the mean RMS of coma was 0.98 μm in the entire eye and 1.28 μm in the internal optics. The spherical aberration of the internal optics correlated negatively with the grade of nuclear cataract (r = −0.450, P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Most HOAs in eyes with nuclear cataracts were due to the internal optics; coma was the predominant HOA. The grade of nuclear cataract was negatively correlated with the amount of spherical aberration. These findings may explain the subjective symptoms in patients with nuclear cataract.

Factors affecting ocular pulse amplitude in eyes with open angle glaucoma and glaucoma‐suspect eyes

Purpose:  To investigate the associations between ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) as measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) and ocular and systemic factors in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG) and in glaucoma suspects.

Early Postoperative Pain and Visual Outcomes Following Epipolis-Laser In Situ Keratomileusis and Photorefractive Keratectomy

Purpose To compare early postoperative pain and visual outcomes after epipolis-laser in situ keratomileusis (epi-LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) in the treatment of myopia. Methods A retrospective chart review was designed and included 49 eyes in 30 patients who underwent epi-LASIK and 54 eyes in 29 patients who underwent PRK. During the early postoperative period (days 1 to 5), pain, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), and time to epithelial healing were recorded. Visual outcomes were followed for up to six months. Results Mean preoperative spherical equivalent refraction for the epi-LASIK group was -3.99±1.39 diopters (D) and that of the PRK group was -3.54±1.27 D. The pain scores on the fourth postoperative day were significantly higher in the epi-LASIK group than in the PRK group (p=0.017). Duration of pain in the epi-LASIK group was longer than in the PRK group (p=0.010). Mean healing time was significantly longer in the epi-LASIK group than in the PRK group (p<0.000). In addition, UCVA in the epi-LASIK group at postoperative days 1 and 3 were significantly lower than those in the PRK group (p=0.021 and p<0.000, respectively). Uncorrected visual acuity at one week and one month after epi-LASIK were lower than those after PRK (p=0.023 and p=0.004, respectively). Conclusions In the epi-LASIK patients, pain relief, corneal healing, and visual recovery seemed to be slower during the early postoperative period compared to those of the PRK patients. With longer duration of follow-up, however, there were no significant differences in visual outcome between the two groups.

Surgical reduction of ocular pigmentation in patients with oculodermal melanocytosis.

Purpose: To show the outcomes of surgical reduction of ocular pigmentation in patients with oculodermal melanocytosis. Methods: Surgical reduction of ocular pigmentation was performed in 49 patients with oculodermal melanocytosis at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea, between January 2005 and January 2009. Results: In all patients, ocular pigmentation was cosmetically reduced, and most patients were satisfied with the results of surgery. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuities, intraocular pressure (IOP), keratometry, and refractive outcomes did not differ significantly. During the follow-ups, 14 patients showed transient IOP elevation and 4 patients showed conjunctival neovascularization. Conclusions: Surgical reduction of oculodermal melanocytosis seemed to be cosmetically satisfactory and did not cause significant changes in visual acuity, refraction, or keratometry, although 28.6% (14 of 49) of patients showed transient IOP elevation.

Homeostatic response of intraocular pressure in the early period after sutureless phacoemulsification.

PURPOSE: To determine the homeostatic response of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) by analyzing postoperative IOP trends after sutureless phacoemulsification. SETTING: Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea. DESIGN: Comparative case series. METHODS: Normotensive eyes were treated with sutureless phacoemulsification with in‐the‐bag posterior chamber IOL (PC IOL) implantation. The patients were randomly divided into 3 groups according to the intended immediate postoperative IOP as follows: Group 1, IOP less than 10 mm Hg; Group 2, IOP 10 to 21 mm Hg; Group 3, IOP over 21 mm Hg. The surgeon intentionally attempted supranormal, normal, or subnormal pressurization. The IOP was measured immediately after surgery and 2 hours, 4 hours, 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively. RESULTS: Group 1 included 88 eyes (27.8%), Group 2 included 130 eyes (41.2%), and Group 3 included 98 eyes (31.0%). The mean IOP immediately after surgery was 6.4 mm Hg ± 2.0 (SD), 14.5 ± 3.2 mm Hg, and 27.0 ± 4.6 mm Hg, respectively, with significant differences between the 3 groups (P<.05). However, the IOP values were nearly normalized in the 3 groups 2 to 4 hours postoperatively. Twenty‐eight eyes (8.9%) had an IOP lower than 5 mm Hg immediately after surgery in the absence of incision leakage. There were no postoperative complications related to hypotony. Thirty‐one eyes (9.8%) had an IOP of at least 30 mm Hg immediately after surgery; the IOP normalized by 1 day postoperatively. CONCLUSION: In normal eyes that had uneventful sutureless phacoemulsification with in‐the‐bag PC IOL implantation, immediate postoperative high or low IOP did not affect the return to baseline levels. Financial Disclosure: No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.