How does high-refractive error affect quantitative pupillometry values?

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the static and dynamic pupil responses in differentiating eyes with high-refractive errors from emmetropic controls.

Methods: The study was conducted using data obtained from 36 participants with high myopia, 26 participants with high hyperopia, and 38 age-gender-matched controls. The cycloplegic spherical equivalent refraction (SER), axial length (AL), and pupil responses were examined. In static pupillometry, pupil diameters were recorded at scotopic, mesopic, and photopic light intensities. The mean pupil dilation speed was calculated according to changes in pupil size over time, as dynamic pupillometry.

Results: The mean scotopic and mesopic pupil diameters were smaller in high hyperopic eyes compared with high myopic and control eyes (P < 0.05). The photopic pupil diameter in the high hyperopic group was significantly lower than in the high myopic group (P = 0.003). There was no statistical difference between the high myopia and control groups regarding static pupillometry (P > 0.05). No significant difference was noted between the refractive groups regarding the speed of pupil dilation (P = 0.241). While SER and AL were correlated with scotopic and mesopic pupil diameters (P < 0.05), no correlation was observed with photopic pupil diameter or the speed of pupil dilation (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: The difference in static pupil responses was prominent in high hyperopic eyes compared to high myopic and emmetropic eyes. Unlike static pupil responses, the speed of pupil dilation was not affected by high-refractive errors.