title: Visual acuity versus letter contrast sensitivity in early cataract.
abstract: Large and small letter contrast sensitivity and visual acuity were assessed in 37 elderly eyes (mean VA -0.01 logMAR, Snellen 6/6) and their lens opacities were categorised and graded using the LOCS III system. Large letter contrast sensitivity was often not reduced in cataract from age-matched normal values and provided limited information. Small letter contrast sensitivity was shown to be a more sensitive measure of early cataract than visual acuity and large letter contrast sensitivity. Its usefulness may be limited by its strong correlation with visual acuity (r2 = 0.70), which is the standard and traditional measure of vision in cataract.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, University of Bradford, UK. d.elliott1@bradford.ac.uk
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Situ
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*