A Simplified Method of Assessing the Progress of a Cataract Based on Deterioration in Color Discrimination by Scattering Light

Abstract

Cataract is one of the most typical age-related eye diseases. As a cataract progress, the crystalline lens becomes hazier and visual ability deteriorates. Since the main cause of visual impairment is light scattered by the hazy lens, both brighter environments and hazier lenses worsen visual ability. In this study, error scores of 50 Hue test were measured for pseudo-cataract subjects (young observer with foggy filters of known as haze factor) when the intensity of scattering light was increased. The rate of increase in error score of 50 Hue test was larger with higher haze factor. We propose, as an easy method for assessing the progress of a cataract, the haze estimation of elderly crystalline lens using the obtained error scores of 50 Hue test as a function of the intensity of scattering light.