Potential Acuity
OVERVIEW
Potential acuity tests sucha as the Potential Acuity Meter (PAM) and the Super Pinhole function using differnet principles, however both help 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.
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