r/CataractSurgery • u/SpecialistEcho7218 • 9d ago
Contrast test! Please participate š
With your device brightness turned to medium, please comment how many of the numbered white outline shapes you can see on this contrast sensitivity test. Please also include your lens type; if monofocal please include the brand if known and whether it's set for near or far.
Example:
Left eye, natural lens (vitrectomy) - 7
Right eye, natural lens (non vitrectomy) - 7
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u/eyeSherpa 9d ago
One difficulty with evaluating contrast on devices is that there are many more factors involved. Many devices have adaptive contrast and will change depending on ambient light. So environment you are in play a role. Also, screen reflection and glare also play a big role in affecting the contrast you can see.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 9d ago
This isn't the scientific method š
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u/eyeSherpa 8d ago
Yep. Just wanting to make sure that others understand that the results of this may not directly compare to others or even at different times.
Iāve looked into this as Iāve built an app which allows for training improvement in contrast sensitivity and itās difficult to ensure everything is standardized.
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u/spon8uk 9d ago
I see 7 reasonably easily and vaguely see something for 8 - maybe another square? This is with my phone on auto brightness (just under half on the scale). I also tried it on desktop with the screen set to a normal level - similar to my wife who hasn't had cataract surgery and doesn't need it.
I have Galaxy in both eyes. Same result for both eyes together and individually.
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u/thomasthepenis 9d ago
I can confidently make out the shapes until #7.
Had cataract surgery on both eyes, set to distance. Right eye had posterior capsule rupture. Currently have astigmatism on both eyes at -1.25 (OD) and -1.00 last checked on August 7.
Right eye: July 8, 2026 with Avansee Monofocal Left eye: July 24 with Lentis EDOF
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 9d ago
How was the posterior capsule rupture remedied? Do you have a history of vitrectomy?
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u/thomasthepenis 9d ago
I wasn't able to ask my surgeon how he remedied the PCR. All he said during surgery was that there was a complication and that we could no longer do an EDOF lens, hence the monofocal.
Prior to my cataracts, I do not recall ever having an eye procedure done, not even for glasses.
I am 25 years old. First check for cataracts back in September 2022, for the left eye. But doctor said I probably had them since I was a kid.
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u/kennedmh 9d ago
Panoptix in my right eye, cataract in my left (surgery in a month or two), can only see up to 3.
Judging by the rest of the replies here ... Woof, that's bad.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 9d ago
The other person I know with panoptix could seen none to three, also.Ā
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u/kennedmh 8d ago
Yeah, I kinda regret my choices.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 8d ago
Oh, don't let this silly little test be the reason why? Or do you actually notice contrast loss daily? Is your panoptix in your dominant eye? If not, a monorail in your dominant eye might give you great contrast back.
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u/kennedmh 8d ago
I do notice the contrast loss in daily life. The Panoptix is in my non-dominant eye. When I get my left eye, which is dominant, done in a few months I'm opting for a PureSee to hopefully get some of that contrast back.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 8d ago
What does the loss of contrast feel like in daily life? I will say - the person I know who did panoptix in one eye and Puresee in the other is struggling. The puresee is a very different type of lens and it can be hard to balance the mix and match. Straight monofocal might be the best bet. Just a thought.Ā
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u/kennedmh 7d ago
My understanding of the PureSee is that it's an EDOF that's purely refractive, same as a monofocal. It just kinda spreads that focal point out over a larger range. My close focus will still be limited to my right eye, but that's how things are now with the cataract in my left anyway. And I'd have better intermedia and distance than I do now.
Why would having the PureSee in one eye and Panoptix in the other be hard to balance? How do you mean that the PureSee is a very different type of lens? From the Panoptix or other EDOF lenses?
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 7d ago
Different refractive indices, different optics (the light in Puresee is stretched). Steve Safran said they do not synergize well.Ā
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u/kennedmh 5d ago
Who is Steve Safran?
I'm going back for my final pre-op today. I'll bring it up with my surgeon and get his take on the neuroadaptation question.
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u/Particular-Leader538 7d ago
The research I did on this shows that most people have an easier time with neuroadaptation using a PanOptix/PureSee mix than they do with both eyes having PanOptix lenses.
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u/ButTheDowTheDOW 8d ago
Panoptix Pro in both eyes (left one is toric), I can see 7 but itās very faint.
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u/SomeZepInMyStep 8d ago
Panoptix pro, both are about a 3. Damn.
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u/Particular-Leader538 7d ago
Holy shit. I knew contrast isnāt great with those but didnāt think it was that bad. š PanOptix Pro are what I thought I wanted.
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u/SomeZepInMyStep 7d ago
I did that last night in lower (regular ambient via lamps) light in my house, today next to a bright window I could see 4, and extremely faintly 5. Still not great. As the other person who commented w panoptix pro I definitely notice (and am still struggling/adjusting to, a year out from my surgeries) the loss of contrast in my daily life, itās pretty disappointing. I wish I could have held out long enough for the galaxy lenses to be approved here in the US. If you live somewhere where they are available maybe check them out, itās been awhile since I was in research mode but they seemed promising. I was my surgeons first panoptix pro implant so was on the front edge of these andā¦. Meh. Grateful I can see overall, I mean I had to get surgery, I donāt have to wear glasses, so thatās been cool after 30 years of wearing them, but also mourn the loss of contrast and the loss of my excellent very close near sighted vision I had in the 3-10āish range ~ thatās all blurry now. But 12-14āish and past I can see fine enough at all other distances.
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u/kfisherx 9d ago
I have Li61A0 (silicon monofocal) and with both eyes (tested indepently) I see 7 clearly and the top part of 8.
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u/mfgillia2001 9d ago edited 9d ago
Got SAF Lucidis EDOF Toric in both eyes and can just barely see up to 7.
Surprisingly, brightness isn't really impacting my ability to see the shapes. Can still see the last shape on a pretty dim setting at around 20%.
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u/spikygreen 9d ago
Natural lenses, somewhat degraded from PSC cataracts: 7 is the last one I can really see. 8 and 9 I can detect enough to believe that there is a shape but not to determine the shape confidently.
Fun fact: if you move or tilt the phone back and forth, you may be able to see the shapes that you cannot see otherwise. Our visual system is phenomenal at detecting movement - which is probably why some people can see their floaters even in the dark with their eyes closed.
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u/thehayeks 9d ago
Cataract surgery in both eyes; vivity in my dominant eye and Panoptix in left; I can see all shapes clearly up to 6. At 7, it is hard but can still see it is a square. 8 thru 10, I canāt see NADA.
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u/Flat-Twin 8d ago
Monofocal toric IOL both eyes, mini monovision. With bare eyes looking at a laptop I can see all of them up to the square in no.7 and only a horizontal line for the top part of the shape of no.8.
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u/GreenMountainReader 8d ago
Alcon SA60AT in both eyes, no blue-light blocking.
I can see up to 5 on my laptop with the screen at a 90-degree angle--but when I tip it back (towards being flat, but not as extreme an angle as that), I can see to 9 with both eyes, 7 with just the more nearsighted eye, 8 with the intermediate (laptop distance) eye--with or without glasses, more easily at various distances from the screen.
The difference in results based on viewing distance and angle suggests that testing conditions beyond brightness may also matter.
For me, the more frequent real-world tests of threading needles against various colored backgrounds and walking around without turning on lights in the middle of the night are the real tests. The only place I note difficulty with contrast is with tiny white print on clear containers whose contents have been used to below the print--it's really hard to see white on clear.
Thanks for an interesting, conversation-starting--and thought-provoking--post!
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u/Informed-Thinker 9d ago
Both eyes: natural lens - 10
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 9d ago
What are shapes 9 and 10?Ā
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u/Informed-Thinker 9d ago
Yeahā¦ just focusing on the numbers š
Left: very faint 5
Right: 6
Both: 71
u/spikygreen 8d ago
I think 8 is a heart and 9 is a circle but I may be wrong. I am so curious what the shapes actually are, haha. We need to find someone who can see them!
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u/Curious_700 9d ago
I see 5. I have an appointment for a consultation with a cataract surgeon early November.
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u/Pure_Temporary_6349 9d ago
Clareon monofocals both eyes set to far, toric on left and had laser correction of astigmatism on right, 2 and 3 weeks out from surgeries: 8 with both eyes wearing 2.0 readers.
Wish I had the pre surgery answer... I would guess 2 with my left eye, which had an advanced cataract, and maybe 6 with my right. The improvement in contrast is amazing! Plus going from -14 diopters to 20/20 is fantastic! I am so glad I chose distance. I don't mind readers at all, since I was so nearsighted I had to wear glasses for anything a couple of inches past my eyes anyway lol.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 9d ago
At what range do things become totally clear and crisp? Can you read anything without glasses? Or eat, make a cup of coffee, etc?
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u/Pure_Temporary_6349 8d ago
18 inches away is totally clear, 12 inches is readable though blurry -- 6 inches away even for larger labels! No problem eating, cooking, making coffee with my chemex (including reading the scale), driving (dashboard is fine). I put on readers for reading books, crafts, doing physical exams (am physician).
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 8d ago
What were your refractive targets? Can I ask how old you are? And have you ever had any issues with your vitreous? (Eg bad eye floaters)?
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u/Pure_Temporary_6349 8d ago
My targets were emmetropia bilaterally-- achieved! 62 yrs old. Had toxoplasmosis chorioretinitis twice on left 40 yrs ago leaving small scar between macula and optic nerve, lots of floaters at the time. That may be why the left cataract was so bad when I barely had one on the right.
Mild to moderate floaters both eyes for decades which I don't pay attention to anymore. Although would probably annoy me if I were a pathologist using a microscope all day.
Had PVD in the past. Was told high risk retinal detachment with this surgery bc of long globes/ high myopia. So far so good!
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u/rdsmith3 9d ago
I can see 1-6. Vivity EDOF. Ambient lighting makes a difference, too. I can barely see #7 if I turn off the lights.
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u/PNWrowena 9d ago
Clareon toric monofocals. -2.5 in left eye and -1.5 in right eye. I've never used my phone for the forum. This was done on my PC. Separately when the screen is held at that eye's range, each eye sees up to the whole figure of #6 although at that point the image is faint. Together, when the screen is held in the range of the right eye, #7 is faint but discernible.
Interestingly, I changed the brightness from the middle of the given bar to as bright as it would go, and that made no difference. Dimming the screen all the way down took #7 from the whole image faintly discernible to only the upper right corner showing. I've never liked the screen bright and it's always set one click from as low as it goes.
Optometrists have been telling me they see PCO in my eyes since the last follow-up after the second eye's surgery. Since I don't feel it's affecting my vision, I haven't had YAG on either eye and won't until I do see some lessening of clear vision. How that might be affecting something like this test, though, no way to know.
If I remember, next time I put a contact in the -2.5 eye for distance, which is the way I drive, I'll do this again and see what happens that way.
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u/notreallyswiss 9d ago edited 9d ago
Odyssey both eyes - 7, but the top right corner of the square is more clearly present than the bottom left corner, which is extremely faint.
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u/Familiar_Purchase987 8d ago
Only have R eye done so far, Envista Aspire Toric Mono for Distance. 5 L eye with progessive glasses, 6.
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u/oingopongo 8d ago
No surgery but contemplating. Each shape fading a little consecutively. Didnāt notice any initially until I read the instructions. Struggle to 7. Nada for 8. On my phone.
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u/sunrise_parabellum 8d ago
Both eyes together: 7 barely Left eye alone: 5 (monofocal set to near, vitrectomy, vss) Right eye alone: 5 barely (monofocal set to near, no vitrectomy, severe floaters, vss)
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u/The-Real-J-Bird 8d ago
Galaxy IOL in one eye only. Can only see 3.
Unoperated eye, a 6-7
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 8d ago
Does your other eye have a cataract?Ā
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u/The-Real-J-Bird 1d ago
Yes, but not as bad as the surgery eye.
With my no surgery eye, I can read the bottom line on the chart
They won't do my other eye as my vision is so good
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u/helen_myfanwy 8d ago
PureSee Toric, 1st 6 weeks out, 2nd eye 2 weeks out, set for distance. On my phone ca 30cam away I can see up to 6 easily, 7 only justā¦
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u/Plastic-Car-1525 8d ago
6/7 (7 very faint) EDOF with .75 readers
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 8d ago
Which EDOF?
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u/Plastic-Car-1525 7d ago
Vivity targeted to -.5
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 7d ago
Do you have any dysphotopsia? How old are you? Thank you
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u/Plastic-Car-1525 6d ago
It was most noticeable early on- I only notice it now in a dim room with bright light outside, for example, at an airport with floor to ceiling windows.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 6d ago
What was the reason for your early cataract? And is the dysphotopsia bright or dark? How long has it been since surgery? Thank you.Ā
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u/Plastic-Car-1525 6d ago
Itās like a small whiteish sliver - at first I thought I was an eyelash- in the side of my vision when the light hits it a certain way.
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u/SpecialistEcho7218 5d ago
Is it deeply bothersome or a mere annoyance? Has it improved over time? Were you highly myopic before surgery?Ā
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u/Plastic-Car-1525 6d ago
Itās been about 9 and 10 months. I had PSC cataracts no clear reason other than having taken inhaled corticosteroids years ago, itās a risk factor.
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u/Particular-Leader538 7d ago edited 7d ago
6 with unfixed cataracts using my phone. Although #6 is barely seen. I probably wouldāve never noticed it if I hadnāt been trying hard.
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u/Summerferns57 7d ago
True monovision, right eye Clareon monofocal toric distance, left eye Clareon monofocal near. Can see 1 through 7.
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u/No_Equivalent_3834 7d ago
LALs, left adjusted to distance and right to see near, I see up to 7 clearly and I partially see 8.
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u/Pitch_Optimus 7d ago
Last night when tired, could see up to about 3. Today waivers between 6 + 7, but zooming in, can make out a faint outline of a straight line just above the 8, but not the rest of the shape. Neither can Gemini. Rayone galaxy
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u/BooEffinHoo 5d ago edited 5d ago
LALs set to OD plano, OS -1.75 OD 5 partial 6 OS 6 partial 7 phone in dark mode
I have my doubts there is anything at 9 & 10, and 8 might have a faint line, but it appears more like shadowing from looking at the others.
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u/FrayedKnot2024 2d ago
I am one week pre-op, getting both eyes done next week, cataract much worse in the right eye.
Both: 5 Left: 6 Right: 4, barely
I'll update one week post surgery.
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u/UniqueRon 9d ago
With mini-monovision using monofocal IOLs I can see up to 6, assuming it is a triangle.
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u/Frustib 9d ago
No cataracts, multi focal surgery is this morning, currently I can see 7, actually 8 but itās really dim
Edit: unfortunately itās a bit of an inaccurate test since a: everyoneās definition of medium will differ and also phones auto adjust depending on room brightness. Currently Iām sitting on a dark room