Visual electrophysiology is widely used in clinical ophthalmology. It is also of significant value in the objective assessment of visual function in adult and pediatric cataract patients and for the diagnosis of and research on retinal and visual pathway diseases. This article systematically reviews visual electrophysiology techniques, their applications in the diagnosis and treatment of adult and pediatric cataracts, and factors influencing the application of visual electrophysiology during surgical treatment for cataracts.