Abstract

It is well established that visual acuity underestimates visual impairment due to mild cataract. The principal effect of a cataract is presumed to be an increase in intraocular light scatter which acts as a veiling luminance to reduce retinal image contrast. Glare and contrast sensitivity tests are more sensitive to the effects of intraocular light scatter than tests of visual resolution (acuity), and have been widely promoted for the evaluation of cataracts. In a recent study, Elliott et al¹ reported that posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSC) differed from other cataract types in causing greater loss of contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies and greater sensitivity to glare. The purpose of this study is to investigate how different types of cataract affect glare and contrast sensitivity.

© 1991 Optical Society of America