AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of applying visual electrophysiological examination, including flash visual evoked potentials(FVEP), flash electroretinogram(FERG), pattrn electroretinogram(PERG), fundus photography, eye B-type ultrasound, optical coherence tomography(OCT), on visual function assessment and retinal disease detection before cataract surgery.

METHODS: Visual elctrophysiological examination,fundus photography, eye B-type ultrasound and OCT were applied in 148 cases(196 eyes). The positive rate was analyzed according to the results of FVEP, FERG(or PERG), fundus photography, eye B-type ultrasound and OCT.

RESULTS: In 148 cases(196 eyes), vitreous opacities was showed in 165 eyes(84.2%)by eye B-type ultrasound examination, 31 eyes(15.8%)without access to B-type ultrasound image; success for fundus camera images in 161 eyes(80.6%), and unable to get image in 35 eyes(19.4%); the VEP and ERG in 58 eyes(29.6%)were get valuable, and the VEP and ERG were saw no obvious abnormal in 138 eyes(70.4%); success for OCT image in 167 eyes(85.2%), without access to OCT image in 29 eyes(14.8%).

CONCLUSION: Visual elctrophysiological detection,fundus photography, eye B-type ultrasound and OCT can predict the preoperative visual acuity of cataractous patients. A variety of inspection methods complement each other, can further improve detection rate of retinal diseases and other eye disease before cataract surgery.