Improvements in clinical and functional vision and perceived visual disability after first and second eye cataract surgery

Abstract

Aims-To determine the improvements in clinical and functional vision and perceived visual disability after first and second eye cataract surgery. Methods-Clinical vision (monocular and binocular high and low contrast visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and disability glare), functional vision (face identity and expression recognition, reading speed, word acuity, and mobility orientation), and perceived visual disability (Activities of Daily Vision Scale) were measured in 25 subjects before and after uncomplicated cataract surgery (10 first eye surgery and 15 second eye surgery) and in 10 age matched controls. Results-Significant improvements were found after surgery in clinical and functional vision and perceived visual disability. Greater improvements were found after first eye surgery than after second eye surgery. However, first eye surgery did not return all scores to age matched normal levels. There were significant improvements in several of the tests measured after second eye surgery, and all postoperative values were similar to those from age matched normals. Conclusions-Significant improvements in clinical, functional, and perceived vision are obtained by cataract surgery. The improvements in objective measures of functional vision found in this study support previous findings of improvements in patients' perceived functional vision. In addition, these data provide support to the necessity of second eye surgery in some patients to improve certain aspects of visual function to age matched normal levels. (Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:889-895) Cataract surgery with lens implantation has been shown to be a highly eVective treatment for vision loss due to cataract.

Visual function and spectacle independence after cataract surgery: Bilateral diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses versus monovision pseudophakia

“…[3][4][5][6] This success has led to an increase in the number of patients having cataract surgery and, as a result, very high functional expectations. 7,8 In the current study, visual acuity, especially uncorrected, and all major items of visual function were better 3 months postoperatively than preoperatively in patients with bilateral diffractive multifocal IOLs and in patients with pseudophakic monovision.…”

Vision and Night Driving Abilities of Elderly Drivers

“…Cataracts can seriously decrease VA and contrast sensitivity and increase disability glare (Jefferis et al 2011) and thus lead to a higher risk of being involved in at-fault crashes . Cataract surgery can improve VA and contrast sensitivity and reduce disability glare (Elliott et al 1997;Rubin et al 1993) and thus might also reduce the rate of crash involvement (Owsley et al 2002).…”

Cataracts and the aging driver

“…The procedure usually takes about ten to 15 minutes per eye and is relatively pain-free, requiring only topical anesthesia for pain control. For most patients, the surgery produces a dramatic improvement in visual functioning (e.g., Elliott, Patla, & Bullimore, 1997). Brenner et al (1993) evaluated the benefits of ophthalmic treatment for the visual, social and psychological well being of cataract patients (N=613) as well as those with other visual disorders (N=408).…”