Specificity and Sensitivity of the iTrace Dysfunctional Lens Index in Early Diagnosis of Cataract

The iTrace Dysfunctional Lens Index (DLI) offers a quantitative approach to lens assessment, potentially facilitating the early detection of cataracts. Globally, the prevalence of cataracts has increased due to aging populations, and in Morocco, they remain a significant cause of reversible blindness. This study examines the specificity and sensitivity of the DLI in identifying cataracts among a large sample of patients, focusing on differentiating early-stage cataracts from other conditions that affect visual quality. The DLI, which generates a score from 0 to 10, provides an objective lens quality measure, with lower values indicating dysfunction. In a cohort of 621 patients (1242 eyes), 243 eyes displayed a DLI < 5. Of these, 56 eyes had confirmed cataracts and 187 eyes presented with various ocular conditions but clear lenses. The results demonstrate 100% sensitivity for identifying cataracts within the DLI < 5 threshold, with a specificity of 72.4%. These findings highlight the utility of DLI as a diagnostic tool for early-stage cataracts despite variability influenced by ocular characteristics such as axial length and keratoconus.