Visual Perceptions and Observations of an Aphakic Surgeon

Abstract

A surgeon analyzes his perception following removal of cataracts and repair of a retinal detachment. His conclusions are: aphakic eyes perceive ultraviolet light, the optic disc is perceived as a point rather than a space the size of the disc, a certain minimal similarity of light intensity on the two retinas is necessary for fusion of images, reduction telescopes can be made by a combination of contact lenses and trifocals which balance the image size in unilateral aphakia, the visual angle of cataract glasses may be only 56° but is perceived as 90° with a 22° blind sector, a patient can observe the progress of his own cataract by looking through a pinhole, and the optimal prescription for contact lenses in aphakia is with acute vision provided at 75 cm. rather than at 5 or 6 m.