Objective:The objective of the study is to examine the relationship between the change in visual acuity in the operated eye due to cataract (one month postoperatively) and the change in functional independence of elderly patients (65 years and older) using the Barthel Index modified according to Shah S., Vanclay F. and Cooper B. (MBI) before and after cataract surgery. Methods and respondents:For the purposes of creating the empirical part of this work, a questionnaire was conducted among 105 respondents before and after eye surgery for cataracts. The Modified Barthel Index (MBI) was used. The paper uses methods of graphical and tabular presentation, which present the structure of responses to survey questions using absolute and relative frequencies.At the Clinic for Eye Diseases, University Hospital Split,a medical doctor, a specialist in ophthalmology determined the visual acuity preoperatively and postoperatively in the eye on which the operation was performed (one month after cataract surgery). Results:The research conducted for the purposes of this work shows that the largest number of respondents are between the ages of 65-74. A large number of examined patients had surgery on the right eye. The mean value of the MBI one month after the operation is higher compared to the value of the index before the operation. The examination revealed a difference in the representation of patients in relation to the category of dependency on other people's help (MBI) before the operation. The change in visual acuity is positively related to the change in functional independence in patients in middle age (from 75-84) and in old age (85 and over). Postoperative improvement of visual acuity and changes in the degree of functional independence in relation to the gender of the patients have not been proven. Conclusion:Based on the conducted research, it can be concluded that the appearance of cataracts in old age can significantly affect the change in the functional independence of elderly patients, especially in middle and old age. Also, in conclusion, it can be said that the change in visual acuity has a positive effect on the change in functional independence of elderly patients, i.e. an increase in visual acuity is accompanied by an increase in functional independence. There is no significant difference in relation to gender, but there is in relation to the age of the patients. The most significant effect of change in visual acuity and functional independence is positively related in middle age and old age.