The Change in Color Vision with Normal Aging Evaluated on Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates Part-3

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of aging on color vision in a large normal population using Standard Pseudoisochromatic Plates part-3 (SPP-3), which is a pseudoisochromatic plate test used to detect congenital or acquired color vision deficiency (CVD).

Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed SPP-3 test results of 23,565 normal eyes of 23,565 subjects (women: 12,035; men: 11,530), who were examined between July 1993 and December 2010. The subjects had a mean age of 46.9 ± 18.5 years, ranging from 5 to 89 years, and they were evaluated following categorization into age groups with five-year increments. Subjects whose best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/20 or better, with no history of ocular diseases, were included. Subjects with congenital CVD were excluded.

Results: We found a negative correlation between age and the total number of correct answers in SPP-3 (Spearman’s correlation coefficient, r = −0.5743; p < .0001). The total number of correct answers was the highest in subjects aged 10–14, 15–19, and 20–24 years (17.2 ± 0.9 [mean ±SD]). The total number of correct answers of these groups had significant differences from those in the 5–9 years age group and those aged >30 years (Dunn’s post-hoc test: p < .0001). Among the 19 detection numerals in SPP-3, we found that the correct answer rates of six numerals decreased with aging, and the colors of the numerals and their backgrounds all located parallel to the tritanopic confusion line.

Conclusions: Using SPP-3, we confirmed that aging influenced color vision, even in normal eyes with a good BCVA (20/20 or better). The total number of correct answers of SPP-3 was the highest in subjects aged 10–24 years and had already begun to decline in those in their 30s.

KEYWORDS:

• Standard pseudoisochromatic plates part-3
• color vision
• aging
• pseudoisochromatic plate
• color vision deficiency

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Tatsushi Kaga, Takashi Kojima and Akeno Tamaoki for their help with the manuscript.

Declaration of Interests

In accordance with Taylor & Francis policy and our ethical obligation as a researcher, we are reporting that we have business interests in a company that can be affected by the research reported in the enclosed paper. We have disclosed those interests fully to Taylor & Francis, and we have, in place, an approved plan for managing any potential conflicts arising from that involvement.

Specifically, Kazuo Ichikawa and Shoko Tanabe are ones of the authors of SPP-3 used in this study. Therefore, this report could commercially benefit SPP-3. Additionally, the authors have nonpublic technical knowledge of SPP-3. The copyright of SPP-3 is owned by the IGAKU-SHOIN Ltd, and we have obtained the consent to post the photograph of the SPP-3 in the publication of the paper. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors have no funding to report.