Hand-held Laser Interferometric Prediction of Postoperative Visual Acuity in Cataractous Eye

ABSTRACT

The visual acuity measured preoperatively by hand-held laser interferometer was compared to the visual acuity measured postoperatively by Han s visual acuity in 86 cataractous eyes treated by phacoemulsification with posterior chamber IOL insertion in order to get the prediction of postoperatively corrected visual acuity. The follow up period was at least 4 weeks. In the 56 cases with immature cataract and normal retina, the postoperative visual acuity was predictable within 2 lines in 52 eyes (92.8%). In 20 eyes with mature cataract including nuclear sclerosis, postoperative Han's visual acuity was predictable within 2 lines in 7 eyes (35%), and one patient showed positive disparity. In 15 eyes with retinopathy, 10 eyes (66.7%) showed positive disparity and 3 eyes (20%) showed negative disparity. We concluded that the hand-held laser interferometer is a reliable method to predict the postoperative visual acuity in immature cataract with normal retina.