Abstract
Purpose:
To determine whether the improvement in visual function and nystagmus eye movements observed in patients with Albinism using tinted CL correction is sustained after 6 months following the initial dispense. Improved visual function and nystagmus eye movements in 20 patients with Albinism resulting from tinted CL use were reported last year. Results collected 6 months after the initial CL dispense are now being reported on 13 returning patients.
Methods:
20 subjects were fitted with soft toric CL’s that were then custom tinted to create an artificial iris. Dependent variables including visual acuity (VA), contrast sensitivity (CS) with and without glare, and nystagmus eye movement recordings were tested again while wearing tinted CLs, 6 months following the initial dispense of tinted CL. The EDTRS chart was used to measure visual acuity. The CSV-1000HGT (halogen glare test) and 1000E (Contrast Sensitivity chart) were used to measure the contrast sensitivity function and effect of glare. Nystagmus eye movement characteristics of intensity and foveation were recorded and analyzed with an ISCAN system (RK 826PCI) that uses a video based dark pupil-to-cornea reflection method.
Results:
The improved logMar VA observed with tinted CLs was still present at the 6 month follow up visit, as the difference obtained at the two visits did not differ significantly (t= 1.72, p=0.11). Mean CS under normal testing conditions was further improved at the 6 month follow up visit (t= 2.49, p=0.028) while the mean CS with glare did not differ between the two visits (t= 1.17, P=0.266). ISCAN recordings with 3 runs in each of 5 gaze positions showed that the reduced intensity of nystagmus was also maintained with tinted CL wear after 6 months (t= 0.61, p=0.557).
Conclusions:
We previously reported that VA, Nystagmus intensity and CS with and without glare were significantly improved with tinted CL wear in patients with albinism. The current study indicates that these significant improvements are maintained or even increased for at least six months following initial dispensing of tinted CL’s.
Keywords: 584 low vision •
619 nystagmus •
477 contact lens