Optical properties shape visual cortical population receptive fields after cataract surgery independently from subjective quality of vision

Purpose To study the impact of changed optical properties on cortical population receptive fields ( pRF ), psychophysical function and participant reported quality of vision after cataract surgery. Methods We studied 30 patients after recent bilateral sequential cataract surgery, using functional magnetic resonance imaging and pRF modelling methods to assess pRF sizes across early visual regions. Ophthalmological and psychophysical evaluation was also performed, and a quality of vision questionnaire was obtained. Results We found that subjects with worse optical properties had larger pRF sizes. pRF sizes in the primary visual cortex were also larger for operated subjects with worse contrast sensitivity (p = 0.038). Surprisingly, patients who were more bothered by dysphotic symptoms showed lower pRF size fitting interception (p = 0.012) and pRF size fitting slopes (p = 0.020), showing that objective and subjective quality of vision may dissociate. Conclusions Optical properties of the eye influence PRF sizes and both dissociate from subjective quality of vision, suggesting that patients with better cortical resolution may have augmented dysphotic perception, and consequently more visual complaints, in spite of improved optical quality.