PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF PSEUDOPHAKIC CYSTOID MACULA EDEMA ON CONTRAST SENSITIVITY

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) on contrast sensitivity. Design: Best-corrected visual acuity, fluorescein angiogram, and contrast sensitivity measurements were obtained before surgery and at 8 weeks and 8.5 months after surgery. Eyes were classified as having no PCME, transient PCME, or persistent PCME. Participants: The study population consisted of 31 consecutive patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation between September 1990 and March 1991. Main Outcome Measurements: Outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Results: Analysis of variance showed a significant decrease for all spatial frequencies at 8 weeks (P<.005) and for higher frequencies at 8.5 months (P<.05) in both PCME groups and for higher frequencies at 8 weeks in the transient PCME group. Conclusion: Decrease in contrast sensitivity associated with PCME may account for persistent visual difficulties despite good Snellen visual acuity.