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Cataract patients whose surgical outcomes were in question were referred for testing by visual evoked potentials, elicited through closed eyelids by a luminance stimulus (flash) that appeared 10 times per second. Visual evoked potentials were rated as normal (predicted acuity of 20/50 or better) or abnormal (predicted acuity of 20/60 or worse). Postoperative Arden and Optronix contrast sensitivities and visual acuities were determined in 37 patients who had no intraoperative or early postoperative complications. Arden grating scores of less than 100 were rated as normal. The optimal and cutoff spatial frequency values were determined for the Optronix scores. Optimal and cutoff values of greater or equal to 1 c/deg and 12 c/deg, respectively, were rated as normal. Visual acuities were considered normal at 20/50 or better. Preoperative visual evoked potentials were quantitatively compared to the postoperative contrast sensitivities and visual acuities by 2 x 2 contingency tables. The accuracy of prediction was 79% for the visual acuities, 62% for the Optronix optimal values, 70% for the Optronix cutoff values and 62% for the Arden gratings.

In 44 diabetic eyes with vitreous hemorrhage, monocular steady-state visual evoked potentials were elicited through closed eyes by a 10-Hz flash. Visual evoked potentials were rated as normal or abnormal on the basis of amplitude and waveform. Abnormal visual evoked potentials were subdivided into mildly abnormal, markedly abnormal and nonrecordable categories. Patients with normal potentials were predicted to have visual acuities of 6/15 (20/50) or better. Patients with abnormal potentials were predicted to have visual acuities of 6/18 (20/60) or worse. Final visual acuities were the best visual acuities recorded in the 6 months after vitreous surgery (vitrectomy) or spontaneous clearing of the vitreous hemorrhage. The visual evoked potential categories and final acuities were compared with a 2 x 2 contingency table. The accuracy was 86%. The visual evoked potential categories and final acuities were associated at a statistically significant level.

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