title: Reliability of the compensation comparison method for measuring retinal stray light studied using Monte-Carlo simulations.
abstract: Recently the psychophysical compensation comparison method was developed for routine measurement of retinal stray light. The subject's responses to a series of two-alternative-forced-choice trials are analyzed using a maximum-likelihood (ML) approach assuming some fixed shape for the psychometric function (PF). This study evaluates the reliability of the method using Monte-Carlo simulations. Various sampling strategies were investigated, including the two-phase sampling strategy that is used in a commercially available instrument. Results are given for the effective dynamic range and measurement accuracy. The effect of a mismatch of the shape of the PF of an observer and the fixed shape used in the ML analysis was analyzed. Main outcomes are that the two-phase sampling scheme gives good precision (Standard deviation = 0.07 logarithmic units on average) for estimation of the stray light value. Bias is virtually zero. Furthermore, a reliability index was derived from the responses and found to be effective.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Ophthalmic Research Institute, Meibergdreef 47 1105BA, Amsterdam, Netherlands. j.coppens@ioi.knaw.nl
authors.forename: Joris E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Coppens
authors.forename: Luuk
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franssen
authors.forename: Thomas J T P
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: van den Berg
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008954:Models, Biological; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D012029:Refraction, Ocular / Q000502:physiology*; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology*; D042262:Retinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*