Measuring Contrast Sensitivity with SPARCS in Specific Areas of Vision – A Meaningful Way to Assess Quality of Life and Ability to Perform Daily Activities in Glaucoma Patients

Abstract

Purpose : To investigate in patients with glaucoma: 1) correlations between measurements of contrast sensitivity (CS) in specific areas of vision and corresponding visual field (VF) areas, and 2) the impact of reduced CS in these areas on subjective assessment of vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and objective performance-based measures.

Methods : The Spaeth-Richman Contrast Sensitivity Test (SPARCS) measured CS in the inferior, superior, and central areas and the Pelli-Robson test measured central CS. Visual fields were tested in all participants using standard automated perimetry and the mean deviation (MD) average scores for the corresponding areas were calculated. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ-25) assessed VRQoL, and the Compressed Assessment of Ability Related to Vision (CAARV) assessed vision-related performance.

Results : Three hundred twenty two eyes of 161 participants were included in our analysis. Significant correlations were found between CS and VF scores in the inferior, central, and superior areas (P<0.0001 for all). Significant correlations were found between SPARCS scores in the inferior areas in both eyes and most CAARV scores (P<0.05). Significant correlations were also found between SPARCS scores in the inferior and superior areas in the worse eye and most NEI-VFQ-25 scores (P<0.05). In the better eye, the superior and inferior areas had stronger correlations ( P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively) with VF MD than the central area (P<0.0001). The same was true in the worse eye, where the superior and inferior areas (P<0.0001 and P<0.0001, respectively) correlated more strongly than the center area (P<0.0001). There are strong correlations between total SPARCS score and PR score, for both the better (P<0.0001) and the worse (P<0.0001).

Conclusions : Contrast sensitivity and VF scores significantly correlated in all tested areas. Reduced CS in the inferior areas of both eyes affected most performance-based measures. Measurement of CS areas by use of SPARCS is a meaningful way to assess VRQoL and the ability to perform daily activities in participants with glaucoma.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2017 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Baltimore, MD, May 7-11, 2017.