[Testing of the "retinal acuity" with the laser interference apparatus as a routine clinical method].

The retinal function may be tested by laser-interference-fringes formed on the retina independently of the refraction status of the eye. The perception of these fringes is a subjective test for the retinal function even in case of moderate opacities of the optical media. Experiences with a new apparatus described here showed that the determination of this "retinal acuity" is very simple to perform. The comparison of retinal acuity and visula acuity of several hundred cataratous eyes and the measurement before and after cataract extraction in about 100 cases are discussed. The method gives useful prognostic and diagnostic information to the ophthalmologist.