The influence of cataract types on potential acuity meter results

The records of 100 patients who had cataract surgery were reviewed to compare preoperative potential acuity meter (PAM) results with postoperative visual acuity. A PAM acuity was obtainable in 95 patients. In 82 of the 95 patients (86%), the PAM levels were within three lines of the outcome. Potential acuity meter results substantially lower (less than or equal to four Snellen lines) than outcome generally occurred when posterior subcapsular (PSC) or PSC plus diffuse cortical or nuclear changes were present. We believe that the PAM projection can usually go around or through the nuclear sclerosis to give an accurate prediction. However, with PSC or mixed type, one may not always find a window in the cataract. Also, PSC or diffuse cortical cataracts may be particularly disruptive to the paracentral diffracted light that is an important factor in PAM acuity.