Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the relationship between contrast sensitivity and lower extremity physical function in a population of high-functioning older adults.
Methods :
Cross-sectional analysis of 190 older adults in B-NET who completed baseline contrast sensitivity function, corrected distance visual acuity testing, and lower extremity function using the expanded short physical performance battery (eSPPB).
Results :
Participant mean age was 76.4 (range 70.3 – 90.7) years with 56% identifying as female. Presenting corrected logMAR visual acuity was good overall with a mean 0.092 +/- 0.10 and median of 0.097 (range 0 – 0.602), which translates to a mean and median Snellen acuity of approximately 20/25 (range 20/20 – 20/80). Mean eSPPB was 2.0 (Range 0.48, 3.26). Log contrast sensitivity accounted for approximately 6.2% of the variance in baseline eSPPB (p<0.001) and remained significantly associated with eSPPB after adjusting for age, sex, and presenting visual acuity (p=0.009). A 1-standard deviation lower log contrast sensitivity score was associated with a -0.10 adjusted difference in eSPPB. Similarly, participants with a log contrast sensitivity less than 1.55 had a significantly lower eSPPB score than those with better log contrast sensitivity in both unadjusted (Beta = -0.270, 95% CI (-0.45, -0.09), p=0.003) and adjusted models (Beta = -0.216, 95% CI (-0.39, -0.038), p=0.018).
Conclusions :
Impairment in contrast sensitivity is associated with worse performance on tests of lower extremity physical function, independent of corrected distance visual acuity. These findings suggest there may be a subgroup of older adults with poor contrast sensitivity who may be at risk of decline in physical function despite having good visual acuity and who may benefit from targeted screening protocols and interventions to prevent disability.
This abstract was presented at the 2022 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Denver, CO, May 1-4, 2022, and virtually.