Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of cataract surgery on pupil size at well-defined measurement conditions with a novel pupillometer (PupilX). Methods: Pupil size of healthy study participants was measured with infrared-video PupilX pupillometer (MEye Tech GmbH) at 5 different illumination levels (0, 0.5, 4, 32 and 250 lux) before and after cataract surgery. Measurements were performed by the same investigator. 90 images were recorded during a measurement period of 3 seconds. The absolute linear camera resolution was approximately 20 pixels per mm. Results: This prospective study analysed the pupil size of 35 patients (mean age 73.2 ± 8.6 years, range 50-87 years). Beside the gradually decreasing pupil size with an increasing illumination level there is a significant decreased pupil size after cataract surgery at all illumination levels. One week after cataract surgery mean pupil diameter for all patients decreased significantly by 13.1% at 0 Lux, 13.6% at 0.5 Lux, 8.4% at 4 Lux, 7.3% at 32 Lux and 5.1% at 250 Lux. Four weeks after cataract surgery mean pupil diameter increased back to comparably preoperative pupil size. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study showed a significant decrease of pupil size after cataract surgery in a normal population under scotopic, mesopic and photopic static illuminance conditions. After 4 weeks postoperatively pupil size returned to approximately preoperative levels. The variability of illuminance conditions of PupilX allows the possibility of investigations of pupil size in relation to refractive surgery.

Authors and Affiliations