Assessment of cycloplegic effects on the vistech contrast sensitivity test in Army aviator candidates

This study was designed to provide information regarding two aspects of contrast sensitivity testing of aviator candidates: first to determine whether contrast sensitivity functions (CSF's) obtained with the Vistech Visual Contrast Test System (VCTS) are affected by cycloplegia and second to determine whether the VCTS provides useful CSF's under clinical screening conditions in a timely and simple manner. Contrast sensitivity thresholds were obtained at 5 spatial frequencies from 106 aviator candidates before and after administering a cycloplegic. CSF's obtained under cycloplegia were reduced by about 20%. The VCTS provided useful CSF's under military screening conditions, and added about 6 min to the time required for the standard flight physical.