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Long-term renormalization of chromatic mechanisms following cataract surgery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2005

PETER B. DELAHUNT ,
MICHAEL A. WEBSTER ,
LEI MA  and
JOHN S. WERNER
PETER B. DELAHUNT
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology and Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California—Davis
MICHAEL A. WEBSTER
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno
LEI MA
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Shanxi Medical University, China
JOHN S. WERNER
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology and Section of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, University of California—Davis
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Abstract

The optical density of the human crystalline lens progressively increases with age, the greatest increase in the visible spectrum being at short wavelengths. This produces a gradual shift in the spectral distribution of the light reaching the retina, yet color appearance remains relatively stable across the life span, implying that the visual system adapts to compensate for changes in spectral sensitivity. We explored properties of this adaptive renormalization by measuring changes in color appearance following cataract surgery. When the lens is removed, cataract patients often report a large perceptual shift in color appearance that can last for months. This change in color appearance was quantified for four cataract patients (63–84 years) by determining the chromaticity of stimuli that appeared achromatic before surgery, and at various intervals after surgery for up to 1 year. Stimuli were presented on a calibrated CRT as 9.5-deg spots, with 3-s duration and 3-s interstimulus intervals (ISIs). Chromaticity was adjusted by the subjects in CIE L*a*b* color space with luminance fixed at 32 cd/m2, on a dark background. We also estimated the optical density of the cataractous lens by comparing absolute scotopic thresholds from 410 nm to 600 nm before and after surgery. The results demonstrated that immediately following surgery there is a large increase in the short-wave light reaching the retina, mainly below 500 nm. The achromatic settings generally showed an initial large shift in the “yellow” direction after surgery that gradually (but never fully) returned to the original achromatic point before surgery. The shifts in the achromatic point occur over a number of months and appear to occur independently of the fellow eye.

Keywords

CataractAchromatic settingsAdaptationColor constancyColor appearance
Type
Research Article
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , May 2004 , pp. 301 - 307
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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