qCSF in clinical application: efficient characterization and classification of contrast sensitivity functions in amblyopia.
OBJECTIVE
The qCSF method is a novel procedure for rapid measurement of spatial contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs). It combines Bayesian adaptive inference with a trial-to-trial information gain strategy, to directly estimate four parameters defining the observer's CSF. In the present study, the suitability of the qCSF method for clinical application was examined.


METHODS
The qCSF method was applied to rapidly assess spatial CSFs in 10 normal and 8 amblyopic participants. The qCSF was evaluated for accuracy, precision, test-retest reliability, suitability of CSF model assumptions, and accuracy of amblyopia screening.


RESULTS
qCSF estimates obtained with as few as 50 trials matched those obtained with 300 Ψ trials. The precision of qCSF estimates obtained with 120 and 130 trials, in normal subjects and amblyopes, matched the precision of 300 Ψ trials. For both groups and both methods, test-retest sensitivity estimates were well matched (all R > 0.94). The qCSF model assumptions were valid for 8 of 10 normal participants and all amblyopic participants. Measures of the area under log CSF (AULCSF) and the cutoff spatial frequency (cutSF) were lower in the amblyopia group; these differences were captured within 50 qCSF trials. Amblyopia was detected at an approximately 80% correct rate in 50 trials, when a logistic regression model was used with AULCSF and cutSF as predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
The qCSF method is sufficiently rapid, accurate, and precise in measuring CSFs in normal and amblyopic persons. It has great potential for clinical practice.
Hou
Fang
F
Vision Research Laboratory, School of Life Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Huang
Chang-Bing
CB
Lesmes
Luis
L
Feng
Li-Xia
LX
Tao
Liming
L
Zhou
Yi-Feng
YF
Lu
Zhong-Lin
ZL
D000328:Adult; D000550:Amblyopia / Q000145:classification* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D015982:Bias; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult