Grating acuity development after early surgery for congenital unilateral cataract
E. E. Birch, D. R. Stager and W. W. Wright
Longitudinal measures of grating acuity were obtained from 16 children
after early surgery, optical correction, and occlusion therapy for
congenital unilateral cataract. Compliance with contact lens wear and
occlusion therapy was good in this population. Monocular grating acuities
were obtained by preferential looking during months 1 through 15 and by an
operant procedure during months 16 through 53. Grating acuities of normal
eyes did not differ from those obtained in an age-matched normal population
and showed no evidence of occlusion amblyopia. During the first year of
life, grating acuities of aphakic eyes were typically within the normal
range, but lagged behind normal development during years 2 through 4. These
results suggest that early surgery is associated with favorable long-term
visual results but does not, even with good compliance, completely
eliminate deprivation amblyopia.
