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Updated: Jun 19, 2025
Author Spotlight: An Automated Method for Assessing Visual Acuity in Infants and Toddlers Using an Eye-Tracking System
Published on: March 17, 2023
Contrast Sensitivity and Low Contrast Visual Acuity in Children With Normal Visual Acuity
Deiva Jayaraman1, Deepak Kumar Bagga1, Ananthapadmanabhan Ag1
1From the Institute for Vision Rehabilitation, L V Prasad Eye Institute (D.J., D.K.B., A.A., S.S.S.S., I.P.I., B.C.), Hyderabad, India.
Purpose:
To measure and report the distribution of distance and near contrast sensitivity (CS) and low contrast visual acuity (LCVA) at 5% and 2.5% contrast in children aged 5-15 years with normal visual acuity (VA).
Design:
Prospective, cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Schools in Southern India.
Study Population:
One thousand fifty-two children aged 5 to 15 years (mean age 10.61 ± 2.85 years) with a presenting visual acuity of 0.00 logMAR or better in both eyes and a stereo acuity of 40 seconds of arc or better were recruited from nine schools. Repeatability of contrast sensitivity and low contrast visual acuities were tested in 246 children. Pelli-Robson charts were used to measure the distance and near contrast sensitivity at 1 m and 40 cm, respectively. The low contrast visual acuity was recorded at 5% and 2.5% contrast using LEA Symbols at 3 m.
Results:
Overall, the mean ± SD, (95% CI) monocular distance and near CS were 1.75 ± 0.11 (1.76-1.75) logCS and 1.72 ± 0.10 (1.73-1.71) logCS, respectively. The mean LCVA at 5% and 2.5% contrasts were 0.20 ± 0.10 (0.21-0.20) logMAR and 0.39 ± 0.11 (0.40-0.39) logMAR, respectively. Distance and near CS gradually improved till the ages of 11 and 13, respectively, and then plateaued. Similarly, LCVA at 5% and 2.5% contrasts gradually improved till age ten before plateauing. The Coefficient of Repeatability (CoR) for CS was ±0.02 logCS for distance, ±0.05 logCS for near, and ±0.01 logMAR for both LCVA contrasts.
Conclusions:
The study provides age-specific normative values for distance and near CS, and LCVA in a cohort of children aged 5-15 years. These results are important to understand the impact of ocular conditions on CS in children and have utility in clinical evaluations.
