title: Factors Affecting Contrast Sensitivity in Healthy Individuals: A Pilot Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the demographic and ocular features affecting contrast sensitivity levels in healthy individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four eyes of 37 subjects (7-65 years old) with refractive errors less than 1.0 diopter, no history of ocular surgery, and 20/20 visual acuity were included in the study. The participants were divided by age into three groups: group 1, 7-19 years, n=11; group 2, 20-49 years, n=15; and group 3, 50-65 years, n=11. All subjects underwent anterior and posterior segment evaluation, intraocular pressure measurements, refraction measurements, and clinical evaluation for strabismus. Contrast static test was performed using Metrovision MonPack 3 vision monitor system after measuring pupil diameter. Photopic and mesopic measurements were taken sequentially from right eyes, left eyes, and both eyes together.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Contrast sensitivity at intermediate and high spatial frequencies was lower with increasing age. Binocular measurements were better than monocular, and mesopic measurements were better than photopic measurements at all spatial frequencies. Contrast sensitivity at higher spatial frequency was lower with hyperopic refraction values.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increasing age, small pupil diameter, hyperopia, and photopic conditions were associated with lower contrast sensitivity in healthy individuals. Binocular contrast sensitivity measurements were better than monocular contrast sensitivity measurements in all conditions and spatial frequencies.
authors.affiliation: Kayseri Training and Research Hospital, Ophthalmology Clinic, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Arzu Seyhan
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Karatepe
authors.affiliation: Independent Practitioner, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Süheyla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.affiliation: Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, İzmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eğrilmez
keywords: age; contrast sensitivity; photopic; visual function