title: Assessment of contrast sensitivity of patients with macular disease using reduced contrast near visual acuity charts.
abstract: A set of near Bailey-Lovie logMAR letter charts that varied in contrast from 0.40 dB (C = 0.95) to 58.0 dB (C = 0.001) were used to measure the middle and high spatial frequency range of the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) of 15 subjects with age-related maculopathy (ARM) and 15 age-matched normal subjects. The letter charts were shown to have good test-retest reliability. Compared with measures made using CRT generated square wave gratings of variable contrast and spatial frequency they were also shown to provide a valid measure of CSF in the mid to high spatial frequency range. The 20.0 dB letter chart alone was shown to be a good screening device for macular disease. The letter charts do not provide a measure of the peak of the CSF and a supplementary test of contrast sensitivity is needed to quantify contrast sensitivity at a low spatial frequency. Three measures are proposed as necessary to document foveal visual capability of patients with macular disease: distance logMAR visual acuity to measure high spatial frequency resolution, visual acuity with letter charts of 20 dB contrast to assess mid spatial frequency resolution; and contrast sensitivity for the detection of an edge to estimate contrast sensitivity for larger objects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Optometry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Greeves
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Jacobs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008266:Macula Lutea; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014792:Visual Acuity