title: A modified Middle Eastern contrast sensitivity chart.
abstract: The contrast sensitivity test has been used to examine vision in different clinical circumstances. Moreover, as contrast sensitivity is affected by several ocular states, its measurement has been considered practically for monitoring and assessment of a wide range of visual functions, predicting vision related abilities, diagnosing several ophthalmic conditions, and evaluating many ocular disorders including glaucoma, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, optic neuritis and age-related degeneration. The Pelli-Robson standard chart has been translated and modified using Persian-Arabic characters since illiterates and children in the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa are more likely to distinguish Arabic characters instead of English ones. The translation of these characters is expected to have more precise results, thereby improving the test's validity and provide early diagnoses of ocular problems. This manuscript is focused on conceptions relating to the project. Further studies are required to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and reliability of the revised chart to best compare it to the standard Pelli-Robson one.
authors.affiliation: Health Insurance Organization, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Bagher
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Hadavand
authors.affiliation: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heidary
authors.affiliation: Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Roghayeh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heidary
authors.affiliation: Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gharebaghi
keywords: Cataract; Contrast Sensitivity Chart; Glaucoma; Middle Eastern Characters; Pelli-Robson standard chart