Quantification of simulated corneal haze by measuring back-scattered light.

The Scheimpflug anterior eye segment analysis system EAS-1000 was modified to specifically quantitate the degree of corneal haze. In order to confirm the basic measurement performance of the new system, TSPC-3 hazemeter, in vitro experiments were conducted. Using white latex microsphere solutions, tests were performed for the linearity of the measurements, the influence of slit lamp illuminance and the influence of the length of the light path through the latex solution. The validity of Beer's law was confirmed, indicating that a sufficiently wide range of latex concentrations (haze intensities) can be covered by the hazemeter. The scattering intensity measured with the hazemeter showed a significant linear correlation with the latex concentration. The obtained scattering intensity was directly proportional to the illuminance of the slit lamp. The ratio of integrated scattering values was proportional to that of the light path length. It was shown that the TSPC-3 hazemeter possesses sufficient capability for a quantitative evaluation of corneal haze. Copyright 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel