Effects of Contrast Sensitivity on Colour Vision Testing

ABSTRACT

This study analyses how contrast sensitivity loss affects colour vision (CV) testing. Eleven participants were scored while cycling through randomly arranged pictures of CV tests with varying levels of contrast changes applied. Hardy-Rand-Rittler (HRR) scores declined significantly at each successive decrease in contrast level after the highest setting (p < 0.004). HRR scores were also lower than those for Ishihara and Farnsworth D-15 tests at two contrast settings (p < 0.01). Contrast changes had the greatest impact on HRR scores, indicating that this test may not be an accurate reflection of CV in patients with contrast sensitivity loss.

KEYWORDS:

• Contrast sensitivity
• Farnsworth D-15
• Hardy-Rand-Rittler
• Ishihara

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Jiangxia Wang in the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health for her assistance in data analysis.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Funding

Ms. Wang is supported in part by the Wilmer Biostatistics Core Grant EY01765. Dr. Eghrari is supported in part by NIH L30 EY024746.

Additional information

Funding

Ms. Wang is supported in part by the Wilmer Biostatistics Core Grant EY01765. Dr. Eghrari is supported in part by NIH L30 EY024746.