Investigation of retinal acuity with the aid of a new laser interference-fringes device

Laser equipment capable of forming interference fringes on the retina independently of the refraction status of the eye is employed to test retinal function. Retinal acuity is defined and compared with visual acuity of several hundred cataract-afflicted subjects. Perception of the interference fringes constitutes a subjective test for retinal function when the optical media exhibit moderate opacity as in cataractous cases. Measurements on patients undergoing cataract extraction are reported, and comparisons are made of pre-operative and post-operative retinal function as tested with the device.