[Color vision discrimination in employees of a photographic laboratory].
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to evaluate chromatic discrimination in employees of a photographic laboratory.


METHODS
A total of 47 professional employees of the technical area devoted to calibration and technical assistance for one-hour photo machines (37 men), aged 18 to 41 years (mean of 27.2 +/- 5.6 years). The period working in this function ranged from one month to 18 years. Twenty-two normal volunteers (5 men) aged 18-55 years (mean of 25.0 +/- 10.6 years) were tested as a control group. Color discrimination was evaluated by the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test. The inclusion criteria were visual acuity >or= 0.1 logMAR, normal fundus, absence of hereditary eye disease, absence of visual symptoms or ocular surgery.


RESULTS
Twenty-four people (51%) of the professional group presented superior color discrimination when compared to 18% of the control group. Twenty people (42%) presented average discrimination and 3 (7%) presented inferior discrimination. Color vision discrimination was statistically better in professionals when compared to controls (T=968.000, P=0.011). There was no correlation between the period working in the function and color discrimination.


CONCLUSIONS
Technical professionals working in a photographic laboratory showed better color discrimination than controls.
Berezovsky
Adriana
A
Departamento de Oftalmologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil. aberezovsky@Oftalmo.epm.br
Cavascan
Nívea Nunes
NN
Salomão
Solange Rios
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003118:Color Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D003119:Color Perception Tests / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010781:Photography; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity