Purpose: To quantify patient's functional visual complaints in early cataract and after cataract surgery.
Patients and methods: Forty-nine patients scheduled for cataract surgery with a visual acuity of 20/30 or better on Snellen optotypes at the time of patient selection and no other ocular pathology were evaluated subjectively for visual functions preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Subjective visual functions were evaluated using a questionnaire that evaluated patient's visual functions by assessing the degree of difficulty they experience in performing tasks involving distance vision, near vision, mesopic vision and glare conditions.
Results: The questionnaire scores were correlated with visual performance both before cataract surgery and thereafter. Significant improvement of subjective visual performance was described postoperatively.
Conclusion: Questionnaire should be considered as adjuncts to visual acuity and constrast sensitivity testing in evaluation of early cataract.