Contrast sensitivity and visual disability in chronic simple glaucoma

Br J Ophthalmol. 1984 Nov;68(11):821-7. doi: 10.1136/bjo.68.11.821.

Abstract

A battery of vision tests was used to quantify visual defect in a group of 50 patients with chronic simple glaucoma. The vision tests were near and distance visual acuity, visual fields, and contrast sensitivity to static and temporally modulated sinusoidal grating patterns. Of these, static contrast sensitivity function appears to be the most sensitive method of measuring visual defect in glaucoma patients. The visual disability experienced by the glaucoma patients was quantified by means of a questionnaire, and the relationship between perceived visual disability and visual defect was examined. It was found that results from a group of tests, near visual acuity, visual field, and contrast sensitivity measures, are the best predictors of the difficulty experienced by patients in performing visually dependent daily activities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Activities of Daily Living
  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle / complications
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Vision Disorders / etiology
  • Vision Tests
  • Vision, Ocular*
  • Visual Acuity
  • Visual Fields