Dynamic Light Scattering for Studying Lens Aging and Cataract Formation

Overview

This study will use dynamic light scattering (DLS) technology to study normal lens aging and early cataract formation. Cataract is a clouding of the lens that interferes with the passage of light to the retina, impairing visual acuity. DLS uses a low intensity laser light (similar to that used in supermarket checkouts) to measure lens cloudiness. It detects changes in the human lens at the earliest molecular stages of cataract development, when anti-cataract treatment would be most effective in reversing, delaying or preventing cataract formation. Healthy normal volunteers and patients with age-related cataract between 18 and 80 years of age may be eligible for this study. Participants undergo the following tests and procedures: Medical history Eye examination, including the following: * Measurement of visual acuity (vision chart) * Measurement of eye pressure * Dilation of the pupils for slit lamp (microscope) examination and grading of lens opacity * Ultrasound examination of the eye to determine distances between cornea, lens (including lens thickness), and retina * Examination of the retina at the back of the eye * Dynamic light scattering of the lens (see below) * Lens photography using a camera with a bright flash For the DLS procedure, the patient sits in front of the DLS device with his or her chin placed on a chin rest and fixes on a yellow target in the center of the camera lens. When the eye is properly aligned, DLS measurements are taken on the lens.

A new non invasive, in vivo technique to study the molecular changes in the human lens, called Dynamic Light Scattering Device (DLS), has recently been developed. Preliminary studies have shown its potential to detect the earliest changes in cataract, at the stage where anti-cataract treatment would be most effective in reversing, delaying or preventing cataracts. A new miniaturized version of this device has been developed by NASA using lower energy lasers, and under a NASA-NEI Inter Agency Agreement, has been successfully developed into a clinical device at the NEI. We recently conducted pilot studies to evaluate the usefulness and reproducibility of this instrument for quantitating human lens changes, and found good reproducibility. We also derived a useful parameter to use with this new technique, the log mean particle size, derived from particle size distribution data. Preliminary studies have also shown that the NASA-NEI DLS device can be used to detect and monitor molecular changes in early cataract formation as well as in normal aging. We therefore propose to conduct a larger cross sectional clinical study to detect and monitor molecular changes in the lens in early cataract formation and in normal aging.