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The effect of cataract surgery on neuropsychological test performance: A randomized controlled trial

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 September 2006

KAARIN J. ANSTEY ,
STEPHEN R. LORD ,
MICHAEL HENNESSY ,
PAUL MITCHELL ,
KATHERINE MILL  and
CHWEE VON SANDEN
KAARIN J. ANSTEY
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
STEPHEN R. LORD
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
MICHAEL HENNESSY
Affiliation:
School of Ophthalmology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
PAUL MITCHELL
Affiliation:
School of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
KATHERINE MILL
Affiliation:
Prince of Wales Medical Research Institute, Sydney, Australia
CHWEE VON SANDEN
Affiliation:
Centre for Mental Health Research, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
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Abstract

Recent cross-sectional studies have reported strong associations between visual and cognitive function, and longitudinal studies have shown relationships between visual and cognitive decline in late life. Improvement in cognitive performance after cataract surgery has been reported in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment. We investigated whether improving visual function with cataract surgery would improve neuropsychological performance in healthy older adults. A randomized clinical trial of cataract surgery performed at acute hospitals was conducted on 56 patients (mean age 73) with bilateral cataract, after excluding a total of 54 patients at the screening stage, of whom 53 did not meet visual acuity criteria and one did not have cataract. In-home assessments included visual and neuropsychological function, computerized cognitive testing and health questionnaires. Results showed no cognitive benefits of cataract surgery in cognitively normal adults. We conclude that visual improvement following cataract surgery is not strongly associated with an improvement in neuropsychological test performance in otherwise healthy adults. Joint associations between visual and cognitive function in late life are likely to be due to central factors, and unlikely to be strongly related to eye disease. Short-term increased neural stimulation from improved visual function does not appear to affect cognitive performance. (JINS, 2006, 12, 632–639.)

Keywords

CognitionAgingVision disordersCataract extractionMemoryControlled clinical trial
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , September 2006 , pp. 632 - 639
Copyright
© 2006 The International Neuropsychological Society

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