Normative contrast sensitivity values for the back-lit Melbourne Edge Test and the effect of visual impairment.
BACKGROUND
The Melbourne Edge Test (MET) is a portable forced-choice edge detection contrast sensitivity (CS) test. The original externally illuminated paper test has been superseded by a backlit version. The aim of this study was to establish normative values for age and to assess change with visual impairment.


METHODS
The MET was administered to 168 people with normal vision (18-93 years old) and 93 patients with visual impairment (39-97 years old). Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured with a log MAR chart.


RESULTS
In those eyes without disease, MET CS was stable until the age of 50 years (23.8 +/- 0.7 dB) after which it decreased at a rate of approximately 1.5 dB per decade. Compared with normative values, people with low vision were found to have significantly reduced CS, which could not be totally accounted for by reduced VA.


CONCLUSIONS
The MET provides a quick and easy measure of CS, which highlights a reduction in visual function that may not be detectable using VA measurements.
Eperjesi
Frank
F
Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK. f.eperjesi@aston.ac.uk
Wolffsohn
James
J
Bowden
Jason
J
Napper
Genevieve
G
Rubinstein
Martin
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity