The impact of age-related cataracts on colour perception, postoperative recovery and related spectra derived from test of hue perception

Abstract

Background Cataract patients were always excluded from studies on ageing of colour vision; thus, effect of age-related cataracts on deterioration of colour perception has not been analysed. In present study, impacts of age-related cataracts on colour discrimination, postoperative recovery and related spectra were investigated. Methods In this cohort study, thirty age-related cataract patients scheduled for binocular surgery and 30 elderly volunteers were enrolled. Colour discrimination under photopic (1000 lx) and mesopic (40 lx) conditions was evaluated with Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test. The total error score (TES) and partial error score (PES) were calculated. Results Preoperatively, the TES in the patient group was 129.7 ± 59.5 at 1000 lx and 194.6 ± 74.5 at 40 lx, exhibiting worse discrimination than the volunteer group (TES 1000lux = 71.5 ± 37.5 and TES 40lux = 113.1 ± 38.8, p ≤ 0.001). Inferior perception were detected in the yellow to green-yellow (Y-GY), green-yellow to green (GY-G), green to blue-green (G-BG) and blue-green to blue (BG-B) colour bands ( p ≤ 0.003), corresponding to the 470 nm–580 nm range of the visible light spectrum. Under mesopic conditions, the impact expanded to all colour bands except for yellow-red to yellow (YR-Y). Postoperatively, the TES in the patient group were 80.4 ± 62.4 at 1000 lx and 112.0 ± 85.2 at 40 lx, which were lower than those of the preoperative phase ( p ≤ 0.001) but similar to those of the volunteer group ( p ≥ 0.505). Postoperative improvement occurred in the Y-GY, GY-G and G-BG colour bands (490 nm to 580 nm) at 1000 lx ( p ≤ 0.001) and shifted to the Y-GY, GY-G, G-BG and BG-B colour bands (470 nm to 580 nm) at 40 lx ( p ≤ 0.001). Deterioration of hue perception for decrement of illumination was detected in the red to yellow-red (R-YR), Y-GY, G-BG, BG-B, blue to purple-blue (B-PB) and red-purple to red (RP-R) colour bands (450 nm to 500 nm) in the volunteer group ( p ≤ 0.002) and the R-YR, G-BG, BG-B, B-PB, PB-P and red-purple to red (RP-R) colour bands (from the short-wavelength end to 500 nm) in the patient group preoperatively ( p ≤ 0.001). Conclusions Phacoemulsification could effectively rebuild colour perception in patients with age-related cataract. The postoperative benefits were most significant in colour bands corresponding with spectrum from 470 nm to 580 nm. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12886-019-1057-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Quantifying Color Vision Changes Associated With Cataracts Using Cone Contrast Thresholds

“…This finding is similar to previous studies using quantitatively discrete and continuous assays. 1 , 2 There is some ambiguity as to whether yellow IOLs cause noticeable tritan deficits. Although earlier versions of blue-blocking IOLs have been shown to induce tritan color defects, 29 other studies have shown no significant difference in color vision under photopic and scotopic light conditions between blue light-filtering IOLs and UV light filtering IOLs.…”

“…Color vision is an integral part of visual function that gradually decreases with age. 1 – 3 However, visual fields and acuity are the only elements routinely measured or considered in clinical trials. Senescent changes, including senile miosis and increased density and opacity of optical media, 2 , 4 diminish the amount of light reaching the retina where visual transduction initiates visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and color vision.…”

Multimodal Imaging in Ocular Siderosis

“…Color vision has been shown to be reduced in patients with cataracts. 8,9 However, in this patient's case, only blue color vision returned to normal following cataract surgery. Red and green color discrimination was significantly impaired 1.5 months following cataract extraction, and green color discrimination remained significantly impaired for more than 1 year post cataract surgery.…”

Two-Photon Microperimetry: A Media Opacity-Independent Retinal Function Assay

“… 7 Cataractous lenses decrease the sensitivity threshold of all three cone classes due to increased scatter and decreased transmittance of visible light, 8 – 11 with the greatest impact on short-wavelength cones, especially after the age of 60. 11 , 12 Because of this effect, Fujikawa et al 13 established that CCT can be used reliably up to the seventh decade of life and after cataract surgery in elderly patients. Cataractous lenses and posterior capsular opacification 14 also diminish retinal sensitivity measurements obtained using microperimetry.…”