Retinal visual acuity tested by laser interferometer

ABSTRACT

Rodenstock Retinometer was used to test retinal visual acuity [RVA] in three subject groups, normal, cataractous and those with fundus lesions. Snellen visual acuity [SVA] was similarly measured and compared with RVA. The quality of stimuli was changed by imitating conditions of ametropia, media opacity or stimulus eccentricity. Such maneuvers caused more reduction of SVA than RVA. Stimulus eccentricity had the most marked effect. This test could not provide definite clues to presence or absence of fundus lesions behind cataractous lenses and it could not be used for prediction of post- operative SVA. This failure was attributed to nonstandardization of retinal stimulation as regard quality of the stimulus and the area tested, both being altered by the non constant variable of site and density of lens opacity