We examined the effect of acute cystoid macular edema (CME) on contrast sensitivity. Eyedrops were instilled into the surgically treated eye f1p4 times daily for two days preoperatively and for three months postoperatively. Angiographic and clinical CME were measured, as were contrast sensitivity and Snellen acuity. Jaeger visual acuity equivalents were calculated and digital imaging techniques used to simulate visual function. We found that angiographic CME reduces functional vision as measured by contrast sensitivity and visual acuity over a large range of sizes. In patients treated with the flurbiprofen vehicle, those without CME had higher mean contrast sensitivity scores than those with CME; this increased over time. Those treated with flurbiprofen and indomethacin had slightly higher contrast sensitivity scores than vehicle-treated patients; this also increased over time, most notably in the higher spatial frequencies. Flurbiprofen treatment improved contrast sensitivity in patients with and without CME significantly at 12 cycles per degree. Flurbiprofen-treated patients with CME in general had higher contrast sensitivity scores than vehicle-treated patients. In this population of patients having cataract surgery, treatment with flurbiprofen or indomethacin reduced the loss of functional vision associated with CME.