| Abstract: | The preoperative and postoperative data on 500 cases in which cataracts were removed from the eyes were reviewed to correlate the results with the preoperative prognosis as determined by light identification and macular function tests. Another purpose was to consider the adequacy of various methods of preoperative appraisal.The vision was improved to better than 20/200 in 89.4 per cent of the cases. In 5.6 per cent (28 cases) vision was improved but was 20/200 or less. In 5 per cent (25 cases) the operation was a failure, for various causes.There was wide variation in methods used to determine the condition of the retina preoperatively by means of light identification and macular function tests, and there was no uniformity of terms used to describe degree of function.A standardized method of estimating retinal function in the presence of cataract was used in 60 cases. The equipment used is simple and inexpensive. From analysis of preoperative determination of prognosis and the operative results, it would appear that this simple inexpensive procedure is more reliable in arriving at a preoperative prognosis than some of the methods frequently employed. |
