title: Prognostic indicators and outcome measures for surgical removal of symptomatic nonadvanced cataract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report changes in perceived visual functioning after surgery for symptomatic cataract with preoperative corrected distance visual acuity [CDVA] of 0.4 logMAR or better (Snellen equivalent, 20/50) and to investigate the relationship between any observed changes and preoperative physical characteristics and psychophysical consequences of the lens opacity and any changes in psychophysical findings after the procedure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-five patients with cataract completed a validated questionnaire concerning functional vision satisfaction and a series of visual performance assessments before and 2 months after cataract surgery. The lens optical density and Lens Opacities Classification System III score of the cataract were recorded. Correlations between changes in the Rasch-analyzed questionnaire score and changes in visual performance after cataract surgery, as well as preoperative psychophysical measures, lens optical density, and Lens Opacities Classification System III score, were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (SD) questionnaire score improved from 2.15 (0.36) to 1.54 (0.41) (P < .001). The preoperative questionnaire score (r = -0.44), preoperative mesopic glare disability [GD] (at 1.5 cycles per degree [cpd] [r = 0.34] and 3.0 cpd [r = 0.27]), and preoperative photopic GD (at 1.5 cpd [r = 0.24] and 3.0 cpd [r = 0.30]) showed statistically significant correlations with perceived improvements in visual functioning after surgery (P < .05). Changes in perceived visual functioning correlated significantly with changes in mesopic GD (at 1.5 cpd [r = -0.43] and 3.0 cpd [r = -0.28]; P < .05) and photopic GD (at 1.5 cpd [r = -0.24] and 3.0 cpd [r = -0.39]; P < .05). Neither preoperative CDVA nor change in CDVA after surgery correlated significantly with perceived improvement in visual functioning after the procedure (P > .05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psychophysical tests alternative to CDVA better represent improvements in self-reported visual functioning following removal of symptomatic nonadvanced cataract.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Eye Surgery, Whitfield Clinic, Waterford, Ireland. sonia.sofia1@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Charalampidou
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loughman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nolan
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: Lorraine
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Konrad
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pesudovs
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beatty
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011379:Prognosis; D019591:Pseudophakia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*