[Reliability of predictable postoperative visual acuity of cataracts as measured by Heine Lambda 100 retinometer preoperatively].

Purpose: To assess the relationship between potential visual acuity obtained before cataract surgery using Heine Lambda 100 retinometer with best corrected visual acuity 3 months postoperatively, as well as its correlation with the morphological pattern of the dominant cataract and the intensity of nuclear opacification.

Methods: Prospective study executed in the Ophthalmology Hospital Laser Vision in Santos of 121 eyes of 70 patients who underwent cataract surgery (phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation), from April to July, 2009. In the preoperative period, Heine retinometer test was performed under mydriasis and its results were compared to postoperative best corrected visual acuity three months after surgery and correlated with the morphological classification of cataracts, being considered a satisfactory result those who did not vary more than two lines in Snellen chart.