Recovery of pupillomotor function after cataract surgery

To determine the effect of cataract surgery upon pupillomotor function, we studied the pupillary response to light in four subjects who had extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of an intraocular lens. A video infrared pupillometer was used to record pupillary responses 6-20 weeks after surgery. Non-operated eyes were compared to operated eyes in each subject. Amplitudes and peak velocities of constriction for operated versus non-operated eyes differed over a small range (2-14%). No evidence of dilation lag or segmental palsy was found in the operated eyes. The latency of constriction was not prolonged. We conclude that pupillomotor function can be expected to recover in aviators who require routine cataract surgery, and that visual disability due to a poorly dilating or constricting pupil should not be an overriding concern.