[Direct heterochromatic comparison for color perception evaluation]

We analyzed the data obtained from the Malbrel chromatometer, a device that examines color vision. The principle of the chromatometer is based on the opponent chromatic receptive fields of the retina. It shows two adjacent luminous windows of small size that can be either red and green or yellow and blue. The patient's task is to adjust the brightness of the red window (or the yellow window) to a fixed green (or blue) window luminance. Several luminance levels were studied and data were recorded using specific software. The luminance and the chromatic coordinates of the windows have been determined. The aim of the statistical study was to compare the data with a simple distribution law and therefore to know if the chromatometre allows measurement of color vision. In this investigation, 95 eyes were studied. Each patient has to match 4 red/green brightness levels and 4 yellow/blue brightness levels. The main characteristics were evaluated: the means, medians and standard deviations. Then, from the qq-plots we verified that the data distribution was near normal distribution. The percentile curves allowed 3 types of color vision to be determined. Around the median normal color vision can be defined. Between the 10(th) and the 20(th) percentiles and between the 80(th) and the 90(th) percentiles, a small anomaly was present. Below the 10(th) percentile or above the 90(th) percentile, a substantial anomaly was present.