How Contrast Sensitivity Affects Daily Life Before and After Cataract Surgery

Contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to differentiate between the foreground and the background. This is especially relevant in similar color situations—for instance, a grey curb next to black tarmac, black text on a grey background, or driving during cloudy and grey conditions. 

There is a distinct link between poor contrast sensitivity and cataracts. This is because the increasingly clouded lens gradually reduces how well you can tell the difference between light and dark. However—and this is true of most age-related cataracts—because this evolves extremely slowly, people often aren’t aware of the deterioration until it becomes significant.

4 Signs of Contrast Loss from Cataracts: Symptoms to Be Aware of

As cataracts progress, so vision quality decreases. Some of the most common symptoms associated with loss of contrast sensitivity include:

• Problems with similar shades and colors: For instance, someone might have difficulty locating a brown wallet or purse in a dark bag, struggle when pouring coffee into a dark-colored mug, or failing to see a white dog playing in the snow.
• Tripping up steps: Because many stairs, steps, and curbs are similar in color to the surroundings, an inability to make out the edges increases the likelihood of tripping. Colored or patterned carpets on staircases can also cause a problem.
• Difficulty driving in poor conditions: Such as when it’s foggy, cloudy, raining, poor light conditions, or when it’s dark.
• Issues with reading certain text: Black text on a white background might not be problematic because of the stark difference in contrast. However, if the two are of similar colors or the words are faint, then this might make reading more difficult.

Such issues can have a really negative impact on everyday life. Indeed, some can be hazardous for both the person and others around them. For example:

• Tripping up steps or over objects raises the risk of having a fall and associated injuries.
• Driving with less-than-perfect vision increases the chance of having an accident. It can also lead to lack of confidence when driving, even leading to giving up entirely.
• The visual fatigue from straining to see can lead to a person reducing or stopping activities that they previously enjoyed, such as reading, writing, and other close-up work.
• Compromised safety, such as not seeing spills on the floor or walking into corners of worktops or furniture.
• Reduced communication, because of an inability to make out the facial features of others.

All of these play a huge part in diminishing the quality of life. Thankfully, poor contrast sensitivity from cataracts is usually massively improved following a cataract procedure.

What to Expect from Vision Quality After Cataract Surgery

Because cataract surgery removes the diseased lens and replaces it with an artificial one, one of the first things that people notice is the difference in shades and color—and how they can once again differentiate between similarly colored objects and backgrounds. The ability to see fine details generally improves, and—once the healing process is complete—many of the above-mentioned visual challenges are reduced or completely disappear.

Advanced intraocular lenses (IOLs) add an additional layer of contrast sensitivity changes after cataract surgery. Monofocal lenses—those that provide a person with clear vision at a single (usually far) distance and require eyeglasses for close-up work—often lead to an almost immediate improvement in vision. 

However, premium IOLs, such as Toric lenses and multifocal distance vision ones, may take a little more getting used to. Because the brain has learned to adapt to the gradual deterioration of eyesight over many years, removing the cataract-diseased lens means the neural pathways must relearn how to interpret the restored signals. With the latest lenses, the shift back to what can be an incredible improvement in vision may involve a slightly longer learning curve.

While this certainly doesn’t affect everyone, if this is an issue then your cataract surgeon will measure and monitor your contrast sensitivity and provide visual exercise protocols to “retrain” the brain. Naturally, you’ll discuss the best type of IOL for your eyesight and lifestyle goals before you undergo your cataract operation. 

The key takeaway is that the difference in vision quality post-surgery, thanks to the improvement in contrast sensitivity (and visual acuity as a whole), can be nothing short of life-changing.

The Modern Cataract Surgery Clinic is a leading US facility that spearheads the latest proven cataract treatment. Our world-leading clinicians are dedicated to the transformational treatment for everything relating to cataracts.

Discover more at https://www.moderncataractsurgery.com and call today to begin your journey.