Patient Care

Potential Acuity Meter Test (PAM)

These work on different principles, but both are helpful in assessing retinal function.  The PAM projects an eye chart directly on the retina and bypasses the cataract.  This allows the examiner to test the visual acuity without interference from the cloudy lens.  For the Super Pinhole, the patient looks at a special chart through a disc with tiny holes.  This allows the patient to isolate tiny clear spots in the cataract. 

When considering cataract surgery, these tests help the doctor determine the potential visual acuity if the cataract was removed.  Testing potential acuity is especially helpful when considering cataract surgery for patients with retinal disease such as macular degeneration.  By performing this simple test, the amount of vision loss that can be attributed to the degeneration vs. the cataract can be determined.

There are certain diseases that may lead to permanent partial loss of vision. These patients can be sometimes helped to some extent by using special aids called low vision aids. There are a variety of these available and most of them are fine tuned for a specific function. Most of them have been made to enable reading fine print. It is important that the patient should be motivated to use them. They are used at a closer range than normal working distance and hence one needs to get used to the same. Computers and closed circuit television are also useful as low vision aids. One has to test different varieties before choosing what is appropriate for them.

Ultrasonography is test that permits the evaluation of the back of the eye in case of opaque media. In a normal eye one is able to see the back of the eye using instruments such as indirect ophthalmoscope. In conditions of disease and injury the cornea, the lens or the vitreous cavity can become opaque and prevent this visualization. In these circumstances, ultrasound can be used to scan the eye and get useful information about the tissues lying behind the opaque media. This information is needed not only for proper diagnosis but also to plan the surgery where indicated.