A new color vision test to differentiate congenital and acquired color vision defects.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of a novel computer-controlled color test for the differentiation of congenital and acquired color vision deficiency.


METHODS
Observational cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Thirty-one patients with congenital color vision deficiency and 134 patients with acquired color vision deficiency with a Snellen visual acuity better than 20/30 underwent an ophthalmologic examination including the Ishihara color test, Hardy-Rand-Rittler test, Nagel anomaloscopy, and the Seohan computerized hue test between June, 2003, and January, 2004.


METHODS
To investigate the type of color vision defect, a graph of the Seohan computerized hue test was divided into 4 quadrants and error scores in each quadrant were summated. The ratio between the sums of error scores of quadrants I and III (Q1+Q3) and those of quadrants II and IV (Q2+Q4) was calculated.


METHODS
Error scores and ratio in quadrant analysis of the Seohan computerized hue test.


RESULTS
The Seohan computerized hue test showed that the sum of Q2+Q4 was significantly higher than the sum of Q1+Q3 in congenital color vision deficiency (P<0.01, paired t test) and that the sum of Q2+Q4 was significantly lower than the sum of Q1+Q3 in acquired color vision deficiency (P<0.01, paired t test). In terms of discriminating congenital and acquired color vision deficiency, the ratio in quadrant analysis had 93.3% sensitivity and 98.5% specificity with a reference value of 1.5 by the Seohan computerized hue test (95% confidence interval).


CONCLUSIONS
The quadrant analysis and ratio of (Q2+Q4)/(Q1+Q3) using the Seohan computerized hue test effectively differentiated congenital and acquired color vision deficiency.
Shin
Young Joo
YJ
Department of Ophthalmology, Dongguk University College of Medicine, Dongguk University International Hospital, Dongguk, South Korea.
Park
Kyu Hyung
KH
Hwang
Jeong-Min
JM
Wee
Won Ryang
WR
Lee
Jin Hak
JH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003119:Color Perception Tests / Q000592:standards*; D003117:Color Vision Defects / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged