Clinical and physical measurements of the cataractous lens.

In connection with the clinical trial of an anti-cataract drug (Bendazac lysine) a number of examination methods were used to assess the progress of the cataract: slitlamp examination, visual acuity determination, and the measurement of the contrast sensitivity, light scatter in the eye and the autofluorescence and transmission of the lens. In this article the measurements of 43 patients (43 eyes) are presented, taken at the time that medication was started. In this way we can get an impression of the value of these measurements for the study of cataractous lenses. The contrast sensitivity of the cataractous eye is lowered for all spatial frequencies as compared with the normal population. Light scatter is greatly increased. The autofluorescent profile of the lens with nuclear cataract differs markedly from that of the lens with cortical cataract.