Contrast Sensitivity Flashcards
81 year old patient
VA: R: 0.020 (6/6-1) L: 0.040 (6/6-2) etdrs chart
NVA: R: 6/6 L: 6/6 reduced Snellen chart
BEO: N5 read fluently Moorfields bar reading book
Tells you she struggles with her vision especially at night and can’t see food on her plate or read well.
What’s this patient’s diagnosis?
Reduced Contrast Sensitivity
What’s the definition of contrast?
The difference in luminance of adjacent field or objects
What is contrast sensitivity?
The ability to detect objects at low contrast
Contrast sensitivity defines the threshold between the visible and invisible
What is visual acuity?
The ability to resolve a pattern into spatially separate elements
Why is contrast sensitivity important?
- Driving (especially at night)
- Reading
- Navigation
How do we measure contrast?
Difference in Luminance / Average Luminance
What’s the contrast threshold?
The least amount of contrast necessary to allow detection
How do we measure contrast sensitivity?
1 / Contrast Threshold
A measure of the ability to detect patterns and objects at varying contrast levels
What frequency do we use to measure contrast sensitivity?
Can be measured using gratings of varying spatial frequency
Spatial frequency - cycles per degree at nodal point of eye e.g. 5 cpd is a higher spatial frequency than 2 cpd
What does it mean that spatial frequencies are in units of cycles per degree of visual angle?
It implies that the visibility of details at a particular frequency is a function of viewing distance
When measuring contrast sensitivity, we use a range of what 2 levels?
- Spatial Frequencies
- Contrast Threshold
What is contrast sensitivity function (CSF)?
Contrast sensitivity function(CSF) is the curve that defines the lowest contrast level that you can detect for each spatial frequency tested.
A graph is plotted setting out contrast threshold for each spatial frequency.
What is the critical spatial frequency?
Grating can’t be detected even at maximum contrast (Critical spatial frequency)
Can a patient have normal VA but reduced contrast sensitivity?
Yes
What information does contrast sensitivity give us?
Measuring contrast sensitivity provides additional information on the quality of vision - things like cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa can reduce CS