title: The importance of controlled illumination in color vision testing in a pediatric ophthalmology clinical practice.
abstract: The AO-HRR pseudoisochromatic plates are commonly used for color vision testing in pediatric ophthalmology; however, the recommended procedure for obtaining proper illumination (a completely darkened room and standard illuminant) is typically not followed. To evaluate the role of the illuminant in clinical testing with the AO-HRR, 132 children, ages 3 to 16 years, were tested with and without the recommended illuminant (MacBeth Easel Lamp) and with the self-illuminated APT-5 Color Vision Tester. Twenty-two failed the AO-HRR with the recommended illuminant; 28 failed the AO-HRR without the illuminant. Only 13 failed the APT-5. The Cochran Q test for three related samples showed that the differences among the three groups were significant (Q = 17.1, P < .001). Diagnostic evaluation following clinical screening indicated that the differences among the tests were primarily due to false alarms, which were greatest without the recommended illuminant and least with the APT-5. These results demonstrate the importance of controlled illumination in color vision testing, either by using the recommended illumination with the AO-HRR or a self-illuminated test such as the APT-5.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Stager
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Everett
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Swanson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003119:Color Perception Tests / Q000379:methods*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology; D010372:Pediatrics; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests