[Transparency of the intraocular lens and its influence on distinguishing ability of the eye].
OBJECTIVE
To compare logMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and contrast sensitivity (CS) in four types of early cataract and to evaluate influence of cataract surgery on visual functions.


METHODS
53 eyes (14 men, 39 women) with early cataract (BCVA 20/30 and 20/20 using Snellen charts) were examined before and within 3 and 12 months after cataract surgery. BCVA was tested using logMAR charts with Landolt rings. CS was examined on computerized system of 8010 type (Neuroscientific corp., USA) in 6 spatial frequencies between 0.74 d/deg and 29.55 c/deg. Influence of glare of 342.6 cd/m2 was tested using Brightness Acuity tester. The cataract was divided into 4 types: a) cortical (n=19); b) posterior subcapsular (n=9); c) nuclear (n=9) and d) corticonuclear (n=16). Twenty subjects were examined in the control group.


RESULTS
BCVA using logMAR charts was 0.52 (0.22-1.05) preoperatively, and 0.83 (0.37-1.26) at 12 months postoperatively in the whole group of 53 patients. BCVA in patients before and after cataract surgery was significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.001, p<0.05). Postoperative improvement of BCVA was markedly higher on logMAR charts (up to 4 lines) than using Snellen charts (1 line). CS in patients before and after cataract surgery was significantly lower compared to the control group (p<0.05 to p<0.001) in spite of significant improvement postoperatively (p<0.05 to p<0.001), first of all at intermediate and high spatial frequencies. Glare had only nonsignificant influence. The values of both BCVA and CS did not differ between 4 types of the cataract.


CONCLUSIONS
The significant improvement of both BCVA and CS suggest that cataract surgery improve quality of life in early cataract.
Ocní klinika FN, Hradec Králové. hejcmanovad@lfhk.cz
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D
Hejcmanová
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L
Bytton
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H
Langrová
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M
Hejcmanová
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged