Visual function before and after the removal of bilateral congenital cataracts in adulthood.
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.
Fine
Ione
I
Department of Psychology, University of California at San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0109, USA. fine@salk.edu
Smallman
Harvey S
HS
Doyle
Peter
P
MacLeod
Donald I A
DI
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