May 2004
Volume 45, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2004
Comparison of contrast sensitivity in normal children and adults
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • S.E. Brodie
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • J. Serle
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • D. Gagliuso
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • M. Fahim
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • R. Chanis
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • L. Polikoff
    Ophthalmology, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
  • M. McDermott
    Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment, New York State Dept. of Health, Troy, NY
  • J. Storm
    Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment, New York State Dept. of Health, Troy, NY
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  S.E. Brodie, None; J. Serle, None; D. Gagliuso, None; M. Fahim, None; R. Chanis, None; L. Polikoff, None; M. McDermott, None; J. Storm, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  US EPA Grant R827446010; NEI EY01867; Research to Prevent Blindness
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2004, Vol.45, 3509. doi:
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      S.E. Brodie, J. Serle, D. Gagliuso, M. Fahim, R. Chanis, L. Polikoff, M. McDermott, J. Storm; Comparison of contrast sensitivity in normal children and adults . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):3509.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To compare static grating contrast sensitivity in cohorts of clinically normal children and adults Methods: Adults and children from the same households were recruited for visual function testing as part of the NYCity Perc Project, a study of possible effects on vision of residential exposure to the commercial dry–cleaning solvent perchloroethylene ("perc"). Residents of buildings containing dry–cleaning establishments using perc on the premises were recruited along with residents of similar control buildings in the same ZIP code districts. All subjects underwent a complete history and eye examination. Contrast sensitivity was measured with the optimal refractive correction in place, using the FACT grating contrast sensitivity eyechart, which determines contrast threshold in terms of nine equal steps of 0.15 log units , at each of 5 spatial frequencies. Results: We report here the contrast sensitivity findings in the control subjects only. 111 control subjects were able to satisfactorily complete contrast sensitivity testing: 60 ("children") from the age of 5 to15 (mean age 11) and 51 ("adults") from age 20 to 60 (mean age 44). Mean contrast threshold in children was 8.28 steps, compared with 7.58 steps in adults (p < 0.0001, 2–tailed t–test). Linear regression indicated a reduction of contrast sensitivity of 0.19 steps (0.029 log units) per decade ( r = 0.38; p < 0.0001). Our contrast thresholds for children were consistently better than the published norms for adults distributed with the FACT test (p < 0.01) at each spatial frequency. Re–analysis of the data to exclude those with known eye disease or confounding disabilty did not alter these findings. Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity in normal children appears slightly better than that in normal adults.

Keywords: contrast sensitivity • aging: visual performance 
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