J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2006 Oct;47(10):1568-1574.

Visual Acuity Prediction with the Illuminated Near Card in Cataract Patients

• Kang SM
• Kang IB
• Kim JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of predicting potential visual acuity in cataract using the illuminated near card (INC).
METHODS
Thirty-nine eyes (34 patients) having cataract were studied prospectively by comparing the postoperative distance Snellen acuity to the visual acuity (VA) obtained preoperatively using the INC viewed through a pinhole.
RESULTS
The INC predicted postoperative acuity within two Snellen lines in 20 of 39. The accuracy between predicted and achieved acuities was follows: 61.5% in patients with a preoperative acuity of better than 0.3, 53.8% of better than 0.1, 50.0% of better than 0.05 and 28.6% of worse than 0.05. The disparity between INC results and postoperative VA was 3.89 lines (cortical opacity, nucleosclerosis, subcapsular opacity), 2.48 lines (cortical and subcapsular opacity), 2.08 lines (cortical opacity, nucleosclerosis), 1.8 lines (nucleosclerosis only), 3.3 lines (nucleosclerosis, subcapsular opacity), 1.6 lines (subcapsular opacity) and 3.0 lines (the others).
CONCLUSIONS
The INC is easy to use and is a fast and accurate measurement instrument for predicting postoperative VA after cataract operation.

Keyword

Cataract; Potential Visual Acuity

MeSH Terms

Cataract*
Humans
Prospective Studies
Visual Acuity*