NIGHT-VISION TESTING IN UNOPERATED EYES

BACKGROUND: We previously described a simple test which evaluates imag e degradation in post-excimer laser (PRK) patients under scotopic cond itions, After refractive surgery, corneal haze, ablation zone decentra tion, ablation zone/pupillary diameter disparity, and under-correction each result in a characteristic pattern on the Night Vision Recording Chart, METHODS: Using the same method, further studies evaluated nigh t vision image degradation in 118 un-operated emmetropic, myopic, hype ropic, and astigmatic eyes and in 26 contact lens wearers, RESULTS: Sc otopic image degradation increases with myopic refractive error, image displacement increases with astigmatism, and contact lens wearers hav e more image degradation that with spectacle correction, CONCLUSION: O ur Night Vision Recording Chart offers a simple, reproducible method t o characterize image degradation under scotopic conditions.