Contrast sensitivity after +Gz acceleration.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to determine the extent and duration of contrast sensitivity (CS) loss after high sustained +Gz acceleration in a centrifuge.


METHODS
The subjects were 12 healthy male flight surgeons between 20 and 22 (mean = 21.1) yr of age. The human centrifuge at the Aviation Physiology Research Laboratory in Tainan, Taiwan, was used to expose the subjects to an acceleration profile. Each subject experienced three centrifuge runs made up of one gradual onset and two rapid onset profiles. Contrast sensitivity (CS) was measured before, and at 5 min, 10 min, and 20 min for the right eye; and 7 min, 12 min, and 22 min for the left eye after the acceleration. Both eyes were measured with the right eye being tested first.


RESULTS
There was a generalized depression of CS at 5-12 min for both eyes. The depression was more severe at low and medium frequencies (1.5, 3.0, 6.0 cycles per degree, cpd) than at a high spatial frequency (18.0 cpd). There was a significant decrease in CS of the right eye at 1.5 cpd (p < 0.05 between control and 5 min), and on the left eye at 3.0 cpd (p < 0.05 between control and 7 min, p < 0.05 between control and 12 min) and 6.0 cpd (p < 0.05 between control and 12 min). The CS loss was more obvious at 5-12 min for both eyes, and there was only partial recovery at 22 min after the acceleration.


CONCLUSIONS
These results demonstrated that +Gz acceleration is associated with CS loss. The recovery time was greater than expected. Factors other than ocular blood flow may be involved in the prolonged CS loss.
Chou
Ping-I
PI
Department of Ophthalmology, Tri-Service General Hospital, No. 325, Section 2, Cheng Kung Road, Taipei, Taiwan. pingichou@seed.net.tw
Wen
Te-Sheng
TS
Wu
Yi-Chang
YC
Horng
Chi-Ting
CT
Liu
Chung-Chen
CC
D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D018471:Hypergravity / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology*