1. Orientational contrast sensitivity and chromatic contrast thresholds in multiple sclerosis.
- Author
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Jackson TL, Ong GL, and Ripley LG
- Subjects
- Adult, Algorithms, Case-Control Studies, Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychophysics, Random Allocation, Sensory Thresholds physiology, Visual Acuity physiology, Color Vision Defects physiopathology, Contrast Sensitivity physiology, Multiple Sclerosis physiopathology
- Abstract
Purpose: To investigate abnormalities of orientational contrast sensitivity (CS) and chromatic contrast threshold (CCT) in multiple sclerosis (MS)., Design: Case control study., Methods: Nine subjects (mean age, 42 +/- 11 years; range, 20-62 years) with MS, an expanded disability status scale of 3 or less, and normal visual acuity (VA) (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution [logMAR] VA less than.1) in the tested eye were age-matched with 20 controls. Achromatic CS and CCT were measured using static, computer-generated sinusoidal gratings displayed on a high-resolution monitor. The CS and CCT of each subject were determined using a randomized double-staircase reversal algorithm; CS was measured at five spatial frequencies with horizontal orientation and three with vertical orientation; CCT was measured along the red-green and tritan confusion axes. The sensitivity thresholds of subjects were examined in relation to the mean sensitivity of controls for each spatial frequency., Results: Two subjects had loss of horizontal and vertical CS, and three had isolated vertical loss. When compared with the control mean, there were significant reductions in red-green (P =.016) and tritan (P =.016) discrimination thresholds., Conclusion: This study used a computerized psychophysical test designed to minimize many of the test errors associated with earlier studies. It provides confirmatory evidence that MS may be associated with a loss of orientational CS and color vision, in the absence of reduced VA.
- Published
- 2004
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