title: A clinical index for predicting visual acuity after cataract surgery.
abstract: We developed a clinical index for predicting postoperative visual acuity of cataract patients and cross-validated it using data from 182 patients aged 70 years and older. The index consisted of four statistically combined indicators: age, preoperative visual acuity, frequency of reading, and comorbidity. Validation of the index included comparisons to two standard technical instruments for measurement of retinal visual acuity. For the clinical index, 72% of predictions were accurate within one Snellen line of postoperative visual acuity compared to 37% using a laser interferometer and 33% using a potential acuity meter. Testing of the clinical index's external validity using data from 111 patients in a different ophthalmology clinic disclosed 61% of predictions accurate within one Snellen line.
authors: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: Graney
authors: W B
authors: WB
authors: Applegate
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Miller
authors: J T
authors: JT
authors: Elam
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Freeman
authors: T O
authors: TO
authors: Wood
authors: T C
authors: TC
authors: Gettlefinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007368:Interferometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D007834:Lasers; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000295:instrumentation; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014792:Visual Acuity