Reply to letter from Drs. Piotr Kanclerz and Andrzej Grzybowski entitled “Glistenings might be associated with disability glare”

We thank Drs. Kanclerz and Grzybowski for their interest in our work.

In our review, we extensively discussed the published literature pertaining to the effects of lens glistenings on visual function. We agree that forward light scatter from glistenings will cause reduced image contrast However, the key question is whether the forward light scatter is sufficient to cause disability glare. As noted by Drs Kanclerz and Grzybowski, laboratory models have demonstrated correlations between glistenings density and size and light scatter, including our own publication, ¹ but clinical studies reporting visual impairment with glistenings occurrence are in the minority and have limitations. Indeed, the retrospective cohort study of Henriksen et al., ² referenced in the letter, was a small pilot study, lacking methodology relating to image acquisition and analysis, such as ambient illumination level and digital/analogue camera settings, and with glistenings quantification and analysis undertaken using operator-dependent, general purpose, image processing software (‘ImageJ’). In addition, the authors stated themselves, that the study was underpowered to detect the true effect. ²

We would like to direct Drs. Kanclerz and Grzybowski to our recent paper, undertaken to further address such issues and which is referenced and discussed in the review. ³ In a prospective methodology we evaluated forward light scatter in a cohort of patients with glistenings. Using a newly developed, defined, reproducible, standardized 8-point ordinal scale of glistenings density and an array of computerized visual function tests (Advanced Vision and Optometric Tests, City Occupational, London, UK), performed under strictly controlled ambient conditions and based on the same scientific principle as the C-Quant test (Oculus, Optigeräte, Germany), we found no association between glistening grades and visual function including straylight parameter or integrated straylight parameter. ³ This study we feel further adds to the evidence that glistenings, unless present in extremely large amounts, have a minimal effect on visual performance in vivo.

We do, however, recognise the limitations of light scatter testing that is currently available to undertake such in vivo investigations. In their study Colin and Orignac could only obtain valid results in about 50% of cases with the C-quant test ⁴ This same test was used by Henriksen et al. although no mention was made in their paper of the percentage of successfully completed tests. ² It is of note that in our own study. ³ approximately 20% of participants were not able to complete our light scatter test It must also be recognized that evaluation of glistenings themselves and their visual perturbations in vivo is much more challenging than in vitro. In our experience, the precise quantification of glistenings in vivo has proven difficult and dependent on multiple factors often not discussed in studies, such as ambient illumination, slit lamp parameters and image acquisition parameters.

In our review, we have not asserted that lens glistenings do not cause intraocular light scatter, but that convincing in-vivo evidence does not yet exist The paper by Labuz et al., ⁵ cited by Drs Kanclerz and Grzybowski, demonstrated that to produce a straylight value equivalent to the 70-year-old crystalline lens would require 400 glistenings/mm² of 15 micron diameter, a figure rising to 3000 glistenings/mm² if they are of 5 micron diameter. ⁵ These levels are rarely seen in modern clinical practice and support the balance of evidence that glistenings have a negligible effect on visual function at levels found in modern IOLs.

Regarding the comments concerning IOL calcification, Neuhann et al. ⁶ in their excellent paper, which is cited and discussed in our review, proposed three possible routes for IOL calcification: primary calcification which is related to the IOL itself (e.g. the polymer, manufacturing or packaging process); secondary, that is not only dependent on the IOL but also associated with pre-existing disease, which may involve breakdown of blood aqueous barrier; and false positive calcification or pseudo-calcification that occurs due to misdiagnosis of tissue artefacts or incorrect use of special stains. We disagree that we only reviewed the risk factors for secondary calcification; we discussed and high-lighted in detail and cited what has been published in multiple publications and hypothesised regarding IOL calcification relating to the IOL itself including issues with polymers, manufacturing, and packaging.