MEASUREMENT OF GLARE SENSITIVITY IN CATARACT PATIENTS USING LOW-CONTRAST LETTER CHARTS

The Committee on Ophthalmic Procedures Assessment of the American Acad emy of Ophthalmology suggested using low-contrast visual acuity measur ed before and after adding a glare source as a test for assessing over all visual disability from immature cataracts. We have developed a tes t that follows the Committee's three principles of design, and we repo rt that the effect of glare on visual acuity is considerably greater f or recognizing low-contrast letters than for recognizing high-contrast letters. The effect of glare on visual acuity increases progressively as letter contrast is reduced in the stages 96%, 50%, 25%, 11% and 4% . The 25% chart (and possibly the 11% chart) gives the most suitable s ensitivity for eyes with immature cataracts. Age-related brunescence a nd aging itself do not necessarily produce high sensitivity to glare. Sensitivity to glare was markedly different in eyes with different kin ds of cataract.