AIM:To observe contrast sensitivity(CS)function recovery in postoperative senile cataract patients and to discuss the influencing factors of recovering visual quality.METHODS:Controlling investigative method was applied.Experimental group:54 cases(55 eyes) were operated with Phaco+Sensar AR40e(17 eyes),Phaco + Bausch& Lomb LI61SE(18 eyes)or Phaco+Array SA40N(20 eyes) lens implantation.The optical materials of Sensar AR40e intraocular lens was hydrophobic acrylate,those of the other 2 types of intraocular lens were intraocular silicone.Controlling group:12 cases(24 eyes) were aged matching volunteers,eliminating ophthalmology and other body diseases.The patients and the volunteer were examined their contrast sensitivity under the best-corrected visual acuity in dark and bright conditions.RESULTS:The CS of Array SA40N group was lower than the normal control group in any other spatial frequencies excluding 0.8cpd in bright conditions.The CS of Bausch& Lomb LI61SE group was lower than the normal control group in any other spatial frequency excluding 0.8cpd.The CS of Sensar AR40e group was lower than the normal control group in any other spatial frequencies excluding 0.8cpd and 1.5cpd.The CS of Array SA40N group was lower than the other two intraocular lens groups excluding 12cpd and 20cpd.There were no significant differences in all spatial frequencies between the CS of Sensar AR40e group and Bausch& Lomb LI61SE group.CONCLUSION:The CS of intraocular lens was significantly lower than that of the aged matching normal control group;the CS of the multifocal intraocular lens was significantly lower than that of the monofocal intraocular lens in the high frequency area;there were no significant differences between the CS of hydrophobic acrylic lens and silicone intraocular lens.