Bilateral cataract surgery improves neurologic brake reaction time and stopping distance in elderly drivers.

AIMS: To determine brake reaction times before and after bilateral cataract surgery in elderly drivers. METHODS: Sixty-four patients were evaluated on the day of and 4 weeks after bilateral cataract surgery. Forty-three healthy individuals with a valid driving licence served as the control group. A driving simulator was used to determine brake reaction times after receiving a visual stimulus. Total brake reaction time (BRT) as well as neurologic reaction time (NRT), foot transfer time (FTT) and brake pedal travel time (BPTT) were measured, and the measurements obtained before and after cataract surgery were compared. The correlations between NRT, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) were assessed. RESULTS: Out of the 64 patients with bilateral cataract, 53 were assessed for postsurgical measurements. All time measures improved significantly after cataract surgery (BRT, 815.7(224) versus 647.9(148) ms; NRT, 364.7(91) versus 283.5(44) ms; FTT, 290.8(62) versus 248.6(58) ms; and BPTT, 160.6(96) versus 116.6(72) ms, p < 0.001). The calculated stopping distance improved significantly after surgery (22.3(6) versus 19.9(4) m at 50 km/h). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) improved significantly after surgery (0.25(0.2) versus 0.05(0.05), n = 53, p < 0.001; 1.4(0.2) versus 1.6(0.1), p < 0.001, respectively). There was a significant negative correlation between CS and NRT before surgery (r = -0.253, n = 64, p = 0.04, Pearson's correlation). CONCLUSION: Our findings show a significant effect of CS on neurological BRTs and the corresponding stopping distances. This highlights the importance of presurgical CS evaluation as a critical factor in cataract surgery decisions in elderly drivers.

Ultra-wide-field imaging of choroidal melanoma before and after proton beam radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the imaging characteristics of choroidal melanoma before and after proton beam radiotherapy via Optos® ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. METHODS: Retrospective, descriptive study of choroidal melanoma patients treated with proton beam radiotherapy. All patients underwent full clinical evaluation, including best-corrected visual acuity, ultrasound examination and ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging in the pseudo-colour (red and green channel) as well as auto-fluorescence mode. Tumours were classified and evaluated according to their location, size, presence of subretinal fluid, drusen, orange pigment and reflectance intensity in ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. Tumour sonographic (basal diameter, height) and ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging dimensions (maximal diameter) were documented. RESULTS: A total of 39 eyes (38 patients) were followed for 24 months (range 6-48 months). Mean best-corrected visual acuity dropped from 20/40 to 20/63 after proton beam radiotherapy. There was no change in the imaging tumour characteristics during follow-up. Subretinal fluid changes were better detected in the autofluorescence compared to pseudo-colour mode. Mean tumour diameter did not significantly change in the ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy although it did so in the ultrasound. No patient showed local tumour recurrence. CONCLUSION: The ultra-wide-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy imaging characteristics of choroidal melanoma in the Optos® system do not significantly change after proton beam radiotherapy after a mean follow-up of 2 years.