Skip to main content
PMC home page
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1985 Feb;69(2):136–142. doi: 10.1136/bjo.69.2.136

Impaired contrast sensitivity in diabetic patients with and without retinopathy: a new technique for rapid assessment.

S Della Sala, G Bertoni, L Somazzi, F Stubbe, A J Wilkins
PMCID: PMC1040540  PMID: 3967001

Abstract

A simple technique is described for assessing the sensitivity of the human visual system to gratings at threshold contrast. The technique has advantages for clinical use in that it is (1) inexpensive, (2) quick to administer, (3) portable, and (4) relatively free from bias. Forty-two diabetic patients and 84 normal controls have been tested. Fifteen diabetic patients (6/20 with retinopathy and 9/22 without) had test scores more than two standard deviations below the norm for age-matched controls.

Full text

PDF
138

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Arden G. B. Doyne Memorial Lecture, 1978. Visual loss in patients with normal visual acuity. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1978;98(2):219–231. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Arden G. B. Doyne Memorial Lecture, 1978. Visual loss in patients with normal visual acuity. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1978;98(2):219–231. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Arden G. B., Jacobson J. J. A simple grating test for contrast sensitivity: preliminary results indicate value in screening for glaucoma. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1978 Jan;17(1):23–32. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Arden G. B. The importance of measuring contrast sensitivity in cases of visual disturbance. Br J Ophthalmol. 1978 Apr;62(4):198–209. doi: 10.1136/bjo.62.4.198. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Atkin A., Wolkstein M., Bodis-Wollner I., Anders M., Kels B., Podos S. M. Interocular comparison of contrast sensitivities in glaucoma patients and suspects. Br J Ophthalmol. 1980 Nov;64(11):858–862. doi: 10.1136/bjo.64.11.858. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Beazley L. D., Illingworth D. J., Jahn A., Greer D. V. Contrast sensitivity in children and adults. Br J Ophthalmol. 1980 Nov;64(11):863–866. doi: 10.1136/bjo.64.11.863. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Bender M. B., Bodis-Wollner I. Visual dysfunctions in optic tract lesions. Ann Neurol. 1978 Mar;3(3):187–193. doi: 10.1002/ana.410030302. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Bodis-Wollner I. Detection of visual defects using the contrast sensitivity function. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 1980 Spring;20(1):135–153. doi: 10.1097/00004397-198002010-00007. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Bodis-Wollner I., Diamond S. P. The measurement of spatial contrast sensitivity in cases of blurred vision associated with cerebral lesions. Brain. 1976 Dec;99(4):695–710. doi: 10.1093/brain/99.4.695. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Bodis-Wollner I. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in patients with cerebral lesions. Science. 1972 Nov 17;178(4062):769–771. doi: 10.1126/science.178.4062.769. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Campbell F. W., Maffei L. Contrast and spatial frequency. Sci Am. 1974 Nov;231(5):106–114. doi: 10.1038/scientificamerican1174-106. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Campbell F. W., Robson J. G. Application of Fourier analysis to the visibility of gratings. J Physiol. 1968 Aug;197(3):551–566. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.1968.sp008574. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Cooper R. L., Constable I., Terrell A. Mass screening of glaucoma and other eye disease using the Arden grating test. Aust J Ophthalmol. 1980 May;8(2):131–137. doi: 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1980.tb01671.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ghafour I. M., Foulds W. S., Allan D., McClure E. Contrast sensitivity in diabetic subjects with and without retinopathy. Br J Ophthalmol. 1982 Aug;66(8):492–495. doi: 10.1136/bjo.66.8.492. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Hess R. F., Carney L. G. Vision through an abnormal cornea: a pilot study of the relationship between visual loss from corneal distortion, corneal edema, keratoconus, and some allied corneal pathology. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1979 May;18(5):476–483. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Hess R., Woo G. Vision through cataracts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1978 May;17(5):428–435. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Hyvärinen L., Laurinen P., Rovamo J. Contrast sensitivity in evaluation of visual impairment due to diabetes. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1983 Feb;61(1):94–101. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1983.tb01399.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Kinnear P. R., Aspinall P. A., Lakowski R. The diabetic eye and colour vision. Trans Ophthalmol Soc U K. 1972;92:69–78. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Marron J. A., Bailey I. L. Visual factors and orientation-mobility performance. Am J Optom Physiol Opt. 1982 May;59(5):413–426. doi: 10.1097/00006324-198205000-00009. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Paulsson L. E., Sjöstrand J. Contrast sensitivity in the presence of a glare light. Theoretical concepts and preliminary clinical studies. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1980 Apr;19(4):401–406. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Regan D., Silver R., Murray T. J. Visual acuity and contrast sensitivity in multiple sclerosis--hidden visual loss: an auxiliary diagnostic test. Brain. 1977 Sep;100(3):563–579. doi: 10.1093/brain/100.3.563. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Sekuler R., Hutman L. P., Owsley C. J. Human aging and spatial vision. Science. 1980 Sep 12;209(4462):1255–1256. doi: 10.1126/science.7403884. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Sekuler R., Hutman L. P. Spatial vision and aging. I: Contrast sensitivity. J Gerontol. 1980 Sep;35(5):692–699. doi: 10.1093/geronj/35.5.692. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Singh H., Cooper R. L., Alder V. A., Crawford G. J., Terrell A., Constable I. J. The Arden grating acuity: effect of age and optical factors in the normal patient, with prediction of the false negative rate in screening for glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981 Aug;65(8):518–524. doi: 10.1136/bjo.65.8.518. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Sjöstrand J. Contrast sensitivity in macular disease using a small-field and a large-field TV-system. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1979 Oct;57(5):832–846. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1979.tb01851.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Skalka H. W. Comparison of Snellen acuity, VER acuity, and Arden grating scores in macular and optic nerve diseases. Br J Ophthalmol. 1980 Jan;64(1):24–29. doi: 10.1136/bjo.64.1.24. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Skalka H. W. Effect of age on Arden grating acuity. Br J Ophthalmol. 1980 Jan;64(1):21–23. doi: 10.1136/bjo.64.1.21. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. Vaegan, Halliday B. L. A forced-choice test improves clinical contrast sensitivity testing. Br J Ophthalmol. 1982 Aug;66(8):477–491. doi: 10.1136/bjo.66.8.477. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Wolkstein M., Atkin A., Bodis-Wollner I. Contrast sensitivity in retinal disease. Ophthalmology. 1980 Nov;87(11):1140–1149. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(80)35112-9. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Zanen A. Diminution de la sensibilité au contraste spatial et stéréoillusion de Pulfrich chez des patients atteints de sclérose en plaques. Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol. 1982;199-200:95–115. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Zimmern R. L., Campbell F. W., Wilkinson I. M. Subtle disturbances of vision after optic neuritis elicited by studying contrast sensitivity. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1979 May;42(5):407–412. doi: 10.1136/jnnp.42.5.407. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES