title: Evaluation of possible factors affecting contrast sensitivity function in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The contrast sensitivity (CS) function in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) may be impaired either frequently as a result of dry eye diseases or rarely as a result of optic neuropathy. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the CS function in pSS patients as well as to assess corneal aberrations and thickness of the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen eyes of 14 pSS patients (pSS group) and 14 eyes of 14 healthy participants (control group) were subjected to assessment of CS at the spatial frequencies of 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12, and 18 cycles/degree (cpd) using a functional visual acuity contrast test (FACT); measurement of corneal high-order aberrations (HOAs) in terms of coma-like, spherical-like, and total HOAs using Scheimpflug corneal topography; and measurement of the thickness of both the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) and pRNFL in all quadrants using optical coherence tomography. None of the participants were under treatment with artificial tears.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of the CS test did not differ between the 2 groups at all spatial frequencies (p>0.05). In addition, there were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of corneal HOAs (p>0.05) and thickness of mGCIPL (p>0.05). However, among all quadrants, only the inferior quadrant of pRNFL in pSS patients was statistically significantly thinner than that in the healthy participants (p=0.04).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CS function in pSS patients can be maintained with normal thickness of both pRNFL and mGCIPL and with lack of increased corneal HOAs, which may be present even in the absence of artificial tear usage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arikan
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ferhat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gokmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arzu Taskiran
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Comez
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baran
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gencer
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Selcuk
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kara
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Canakkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayla
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology*; D003315:Cornea / Q000503:physiopathology; D057108:Corneal Wavefront Aberration / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009412:Nerve Fibers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods; D014787:Vision Tests / Q000379:methods; D014792:Visual Acuity