title: Associations between contrast sensitivity and aging.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess age-related visual functions (visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) and compare the results by different age groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 231 patients were examined. The patients were divided into 5 age groups: 10 patients in group 1, 30-39 years; 40 patients in the group 2, 40-49 years; 77 patients in the group 3, 50-59 years; 71 patients in the group 4, 60-70 years; and 33 patients in the group 5, 71-85 years. A typical Snellen's chart (the direction of the gap in Landolt C) was used for noncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity testing. Contrast sensitivity was evaluated by employing a Ginsburg Box, VSCR-CST-6500.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Noncorrected visual acuity was significantly better in the group 2 than the group 3 (0.86 [0.28] vs. 0.69 [0.33], P=0.018). Moreover, noncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better in the group 4 than the group 5 (0.52 [0.35] vs. 0.35 [0.28], P<0.001; and 0.9 [0.21] vs. 0.69 [0.27], P<0.005, respectively). Contrast sensitivity at the nighttime without glare was significantly worse in the group 2 than the group 1 at the spatial frequencies of 3, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (P=0.001, P=0.05, and P=0.01, respectively). The patients in the group 2 had significantly worse contrast sensitivity at the nighttime and daytime with glare at the spatial frequencies of 1.5, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (P=0.054, P=0.04, and P=0.01 and P=0.011, P=0.031, and P=0.011, respectively). The greatest differences in contrast sensitivity were observed between the groups 4 and 5, and it was 2 to 4 times better in the group 4. Comparing these groups, all the differences at the nighttime and daytime with and without glare were significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contrast sensitivity was worst among the oldest persons (71-85 years), and it began to worsen already in the persons aged 40-49 years. Contrast sensitivity was very similar in the age groups of 40-49 and 50-59 years.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Eivenių 2, 50028 Kaunas, Lithuania. rliutkeviciene@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rasa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liutkevičienė
authors.forename: Džastina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cebatorienė
authors.forename: Giedrė
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liutkevičienė
authors.forename: Vytautas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jašinskas
authors.forename: Dalia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zaliūnienė
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008097:Lithuania; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged