Optical Quality of Highly Myopic Eyes under Different Lighting Conditions and Other Relevant Parameters

Purpose: To evaluate the optical quality of highly myopic eyes under light and dark conditions and correlate it with other relevant parameters.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, observational study was performed on 180 eyes of 90 highly myopic patients (29 males and 61 females; mean age: 27.833 ± 0.364 years [range: 18–45 years]). The modulation transfer function (MTF) cutoff frequency, Strehl ratio, objective scattering index (OSI), and predicted visual acuity (PVA; 100%, 20%, and 9%) under different lighting conditions were measured to evaluate the optical quality, which was correlated with probable relevant factors, including, axis length, spherical equivalent (SE), uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), best-corrected distance visual acuity (BDVA), astigmatism, and corneal curvature. The relationship between these visual parameters and optical quality was analyzed using a generalized linear model.

Results: The OSIs were 1.241 ± 0.068 and 1.515 ± 0.076; the MTF cutoff frequencies were 37.725 ± 0.559 and 30.238 ± 0.550 cpd; the Strehl ratios were 0.219 ± 0.004 and 0.175 ± 0.003; and the PVAs at 100%, 20%, and 9% were 1.257 ± 0.019 and 1.001 ± 0.018, 0.949 ± 0.017 and 0.719 ± 0.015, and 0.579 ± 0.011 and 0.439 ± 0.010, under bright and dark conditions respectively. The optical quality parameters were correlated with age, SE, BDVA, corneal astigmatism, and curvature to different degrees under different lighting conditions.

Conclusions: The optical quality declined in highly myopic eyes under both bright and dark lighting conditions. SE, BDVA, corneal astigmatism, and curvature were correlated with optical quality to different degrees under different lighting conditions.