Predicting the refractive result after cataract surgery

PURPOSE: To study the accuracy of predicting visual results after cataract surgery using a mathematical model of surgically induced refractive change and a previously published regression formula predicting uncorrected visual acuity as a function of the resulting spherocylinder. SETTING: Outpatient cataract clinic at a university hospital. METHODS: In this prospective study with a 4 month follow-up, 333 patients had phacoemulsification using a 6 or 4 mm scleral tunnel incision. Final refraction and uncorrected visual acuity were predicted based on preoperative and 1 day postoperative measurements, which were compared with the final visual results. RESULTS: A significant correlation was found between the observed and the predicted visual acuity in each eye (P < .01). CONCLUSION: The visual outcome of cataract extraction can be predicted from a theoretical model of the surgically induced refractive change.