Cataracts - Diagnosis

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Limitations of Eye Tests

Although eye tests aid in making a diagnosis for cataracts, results do not always reflect the quality of life and how effectively people function at home:

• Some people with cataracts perform poorly on the tests yet appear to have no difficulty functioning normally day-to-day.
• Others perform well on the tests but insist that their eyesight is bad enough to curtail ordinary activities, such as driving.

Standard eye tests, therefore, may not be useful for determining whether a patient actually needs cataract surgery.

In general, even if cataracts are diagnosed, the decision to remove them should be based on the patient's own perception of vision difficulties and needs and the effect of vision loss on normal activity. The patient should also be aware of all the risks and costs of surgery. In order to determine the quality of life, the patient may be given a questionnaire such as National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire, which asks 39 questions related to vision and daily activities. This test or others may be useful for determining if eye disease is actually impairing the ability to function.

Review Date: 02/22/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital