Contrast acuity in cataracts of different morphology and association to self-reported visual function.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between contrast acuity at declining contrast levels and the type and density of lens opacity in cataract.

Methods: Contrast acuity at declining contrast levels was determined with the Holladay Contrast Acuity Test, in relation to the type and density of age-related cataract in 180 patients with bilateral cataract and 20 control subjects with normal macular function. Cataracts were graded according to the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III of nuclear color (NC), nuclear opalescence (NO), cortical (C), and posterior subcapsular (P) cataract.

Discriminative power of reading tests to differentiate visual impairment caused by cataract and age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To determine whether preoperative reading tests can be used for differentiating visual impairments with regard to the diagnosis of cataract and age-related macular degeneration (ARMD).

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Methods: Reading performance of patients with nuclear cataract, posterior subcapsular cataract, and ARMD were evaluated with respect to reading acuity, maximum reading speed, and critical print size; normal-sighted participants were tested as controls.

Impairment of visual acuity and reading performance and the relationship with cataract type and density.

Purpose: To evaluate the association between the density of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular lens opacities and visual impairment in patients with cataract.

Methods: In 80 patients, visual acuity and reading performance were evaluated 1 day before and 4 weeks after cataract surgery. Cataracts were categorized and graded according to the Lens Opacities Classification System (LOCS) III of nuclear color (NC), nuclear opalescence (NO), cortical (C), and posterior subcapsular cataract (P).

Functional vision with cataracts of different morphologies: comparative study.

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of cataract morphology on the functional vision of patients with age-related cataract and normal macular function and compare subjectively perceived functional impairments to distance visual acuity, reading acuity, and maximum reading speed between cataract types.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Methods: Seventy-five patients awaiting first-eye cataract surgery were asked to characterize their visual difficulties in everyday life using a German version of the VF-14 questionnaire.

Reading performance depending on the type of cataract and its predictability on the visual outcome.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of various types of cataract on reading performance in a standardized reading test setting.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Methods: The reading performance of 94 eyes with age-related cataract and normal macular function was evaluated with the Radner Reading Charts preoperatively and 4 weeks after cataract surgery.

Comparison of visual acuities at different distances and defocus curves.

Purpose: To evaluate how visual acuities at different distances correlate with results from defocus curves.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology and Institute of Medical Physics, University of Vienna, Medical School, Vienna, and Department of Ophthalmology, Krankenhaus St. Pölten, St.

Reading performance with a refractive multifocal and a diffractive bifocal intraocular lens.

Purpose: To evaluate the reading performance of a diffractive bifocal (811E, Pharmacia) and a refractive multifocal (SA40N, Allergan) intraocular lens (IOL) and compare it with that of a monofocal IOL (811C, Pharmacia) with respect to reading acuity, reading speed based on print size, maximum reading speed, reading distance, and critical print size.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Methods: This study comprised 120 pseudophakic eyes of 70 patients; each IOL group had 40 eyes.