Abstract: A hyperacuity testing method is suitably programmed for quantitatively measuring metamorphopsia of a patient's visual system, detecting and measuring metamorphopsia behind a media opacity, such as cataract, and detecting and measuring smaller amounts of metamorphopsia and other visual distortions than previously possible. The method comprises displaying at least two spaced and fixed first spots on a screen, along with a movable second spot. A patient is instructed to selectively move the second spot relative to the fixed first spots whereby the clinician is enabled to comparatively record separation distances and displacement of the second spot relative to the first spots.

Abstract: A hyperacuity testing instrument is adapted to evaluate visual function by selectively changing the relative position of two spots or points of light that function as visual stimuli for observation by a patient. The instrument includes a laser that emits a single beam of light that is split into two beams when it passes through a bi-prism. The beams of light are visually shown as two spots on a display screen for recorded perception by a patient. A rotary adjustment selectively varies the rotational positions of the spots relative to each other whereas a linear adjustment selectively varies the separation gap between the spots. The recorded data enables a surgeon to determine whether corrective surgery to remove an ocular media opacity will, in fact, improve vision, i.e., the test procedure "penetrates" the opacity to assess visual function at the retinal-neural level.