D. Regan et al., MEASUREMENT OF GLARE SENSITIVITY IN CATARACT PATIENTS USING LOW-CONTRAST LETTER CHARTS, Ophthalmic & physiological optics, 13(2), 1993, pp. 115-123
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.