title: Visual function before and after the removal of bilateral congenital cataracts in adulthood.
abstract: Subject Peter Doyle (PD) had congenital bilateral cataracts removed at the age of 43. Pre-operatively PD's visual acuity was 20/80, with a resolution limit around 15 cpd, and he experienced monocular diplopia with high contrast stimuli. Post-operatively PD's visual acuity improved to approximately 20/40, with a resolution limit around 25 cpd. Using a variety of pre- and post-operative tests we have documented a wide range of neural adaptations to his limited and distorted visual input, and have found a limited amount of post-operative adaptation to his newly improved visual input. These results show that the human visual system is capable of significant adaptation to the particular optical input that is experienced.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA. fine@salk.edu
authors.forename: Ione
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fine
authors.forename: Harvey S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Smallman
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: Donald I A
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: MacLeod
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000328:Adult; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011184:Postoperative Period; D020127:Recovery of Function; D014792:Visual Acuity