S-cone spatial contrast sensitivity can be independent of pre-receptoral factors.
Short-wavelength-sensitive (S-) cone-mediated thresholds have been used to study the early stages of visual loss, but due to the effects of non-neural factors (pupil size, lenticular density, macular pigment density) S-cone thresholds are often of limited clinical utility. The current study evaluates four possible effects of non-neural factors on S-cone contrast sensitivity, and shows how these can be minimized by measuring sensitivity for 1-5 c/deg with a range of retinal illuminances for blue test gratings on yellow backgrounds. The data are fit well with a simple four-parameter model which indicates that S-cone contrast sensitivity can be relatively independent on non-neural factors. A simple control experiment is described for evaluating the independence in individual patients.
Swanson
W H
WH
Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, TX 75231-3303, USA. bill_swanson@acd.org
D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D008959:Models, Neurological; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010783:Photometry; D017949:Retinal Cone Photoreceptor Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology