Contrast sensitivity measurement with 2 contrast sensitivity tests in normal eyes and eyes with cataract.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the reliability of and correlation between 2 contrast sensitivity tests in normal eyes and eyes with cataract.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.


METHODS
The Vision Contrast Test System (wall-chart test) and Optec 6500 system (view-in test) were used to measure contrast sensitivity in normal eyes at 2 visits separated by 2 weeks and in eyes with cataract before and 2 months after cataract surgery. The test-retest reliability and correlation were calculated by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of repeatability (COR), and 95% range of difference using the Bland-Altman method.


RESULTS
The study evaluated 40 normal eyes of 20 subjects and 44 eyes of 38 cataract patients. The repeatability of the 2 test methods was generally acceptable. The view-in test performed better than the wall-chart test in the ICC analysis (0.85 versus 0.65) but not in the COR analysis (+/-0.20 log versus +/-0.27 log). Correlation between the 2 tests was poor in both groups of eyes. The ceiling effect was greater with the wall-chart test. The floor effect occurred mainly in patients with cataract, in which it was greater preoperatively than postoperatively; at high frequency; and with the view-in test.


CONCLUSIONS
Based on the ceiling and floor effect, the view-in test is better for detecting subtle contrast sensitivity changes in normal or near-normal eyes and the wall-chart test is useful in eyes with compromised vision.


BACKGROUND
No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.
Hong
Young Taek
YT
Department of Ophthalmology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Institute of Vision Research, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Sang Woo
SW
Kim
Eung Kweon
EK
Kim
Tae-im
TI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology