Contrast sensitivity analysis before and after phacoemulsification in age-related cataract

Objective To analyze the contrast sensitivity changes in the patients with age-related cataract before and after phacoemulsification and spherical intraocular lens implantation.Methods Twenty-two patients(30 eyes) with age-related cataract underwent phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation were collected.The patients aged from 46 years to 84 years with the best corrected visual acuity from 0.5 to 0.8 before surgery.Contrast sensitivity was measured before and 1 month after surgery by Optec 6500 visual function test instrument.The data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS 13.0.Results The contrast sensitivity with and without glare increased after surgery at low,medium and high spatial frequency except under 18.0 c·d-1 twilight and twilight with glare,there were significant differences compared with those before surgery(both P0.01).Photopic contrast sensitivity with glare before surgery were lower than those without glare from low to medium spatial frequency(1.5 c·d-1,3.0 c·d-1,6.0 c·d-1)(both P0.01).Photopic contrast sensitivity with glare after surgery were higher than those without glare from low to medium spatial frequency(both P0.01).Mesopic contrast sensitivity with glare before and after surgery were lower than those without glare from low to medium spatial frequency(both P0.05).Conclusion Contrast sensitivity with glare test at low and medium spatial frequency is a more effective method to evaluate the visual function than visual acuity test in the patients with age-related cataract at immature stage before and after surgery.