Aim-To provide information on the use of vision tests in clinical decision making about cataract surgery in the UK. Method-A questionnaire survey was mailed to 703 consultant ophthalmologists. Results-A response rate of 70% was obtained. Monocular distance visual acuity was the only visual function that was tested routinely by all surgeons. Supplementary use of contrast sensitivity and glare testing was low. Many surgeons (35%) were willing to consider surgery at acuity levels better than 6/9 and a small but substantial number (12%) indicated that they did not use an acuity criterion. Being prepared to consider surgery at relatively good levels of acuity was not associated with more common use of other tests of vision. Conclusion-Many UK surgeons are prepared to consider cataract extraction at relatively good levels of visual acuity and use other vision tests infrequently. (Br J Ophthalmol 2000;84:432-434) Cataract surgery continues to make large demands on NHS resources. The role of vision tests and visual thresholds for cataract surgery has received recent attention because of the relation between the level of vision at which surgery is oVered and the resulting volume of surgery that has to be provided.