title: Contrast sensitivity in patients with Beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell disease under regular transfusions and treatment with desferrioxamine.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of contrast sensitivity in patients with beta-thalassemia major and sickle cell disease which undergo regular transfusions and chelation therapy with desferrioxamine (DFX).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied contrast sensitivity in 48 eyes (24 patients) with beta-thalassemia major (group A) and in 42 eyes (21 patients) with sickle cell disease (group B), compared to 60 eyes of 30 healthy individuals (control group). Contrast sensitivity was measured using B-VAT II-SG Mentor Video Aquity Tester.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no statistically significant difference between group A and group B in any spatial frequency, while we found statistically significant differences between group B and control group in all spatial frequencies studied. Between group A and control group we found statistically significant differences in spatial frequencies of 2.3, and 6 cyc/deg.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DFX causes retinal alterations that may explain reductions in contrast sensitivity function and justifies regular evaluations that may allow early detection of visual function deterioration.
authors.affiliation: Epirus Vision Center, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gorezis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Asproudis
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chalasios
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karali
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsanou
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Peschos
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christodoulou
authors.forename: Miltiadis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aspiotis