Effect of Vitamin D Deficiency on Contrast Sensitivity Function

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of vitamin D (vit D) deficiency on contrast sensitivity (CS) function and retinal layers.

Materials and methods

Group 1 consisted of 42 patients aged between 18 and 50 years with vit D deficiency and Group 2 consisted of sex- and age-matched 34 healthy subjects with normal vit D levels. Functional acuity contrast testing (FACT) was performed using the Optec 6500 vision testing system. The average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness and macular thickness (MT) obtained from nine macular areas in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study were evaluated using SD-OCT (RS-3000; Nidek Inc., Fremont, CA, USA) following a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Measurements were performed on both eyes.

Results

A lower CS was found in Group 1 compared to Group 2 in all spatial frequencies. A statistically significant difference was observed between the groups in 6, 12 and 18 cpd spatial frequencies, respectively. (p = .004, p = .001, p = .042, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of RNFL thicknesses (p = .200). There was an increase in MT in Group 1. However, this increase was statistically significant in the inferior inner area in the right eye, and in the inferior inner, temporal inner and outer macular areas in the left eye (p = .018, p = .003, p = .033, p = .040, respectively).

Conclusion

It was observed that vit D deficiency had negative effects on CS function and also caused thickness difference in certain segments of retinal layers.

KEYWORDS:

• Contrast sensitivity
• visual function
• vitamin D deficiency
• retinal nerve fiber layer
• macular thickness

Declaration of interest

The authors have no proprietary or financial interest in any products used in this study.