Correlation of contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies with myopic shift in Chinese children

To investigate the correlation of contrast sensitivity function (CSF) with myopic shift in Chinese children.

This prospective case-series study included 62 eyes (31 children) who visited the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University in January 2022 and were followed up for 6 months. Routine ophthalmic examinations and quantitative CSF (qCSF) tests without refractive correction were performed. Differences in CSF parameters, including the area under the log CSF (AULCSF), CSF acuity, and contrast sensitivity (CS) at 1.0-18.0 cpd, were compared between two groups stratified according to the myopic shift based on mydriatic spherical equivalent (<-0.50 D or ≥-0.50 D) during follow-up.

The myopia progressed by 0.13 ± 0.24 and 1.18 ± 0.75 D in the stabilized (28 eyes) and advanced (34 eyes) groups, respectively. Compared with the advanced group, the stabilized group showed significantly lower baseline qCSF test results for CSF acuity and CS at 1.0 and 1.5 cpd. The qCSF readings for CSF acuity and CS at 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 cpd increased significantly during the 6-month follow-up in the stabilized group, while these values showed non-significant decreases in the advanced group. CS at 3.0 cpd was significantly correlated with myopic shift. Compared with the advanced group, participants in the stabilized group with higher myopia showed relatively significantly lower CS (baseline CSF acuity and CS at 1.0, 1.5, and 3.0 cpd).

Children with relatively slower myopic shift showed lower contrast sensitivity at low spatial frequencies, which might be an effective factor in myopia control.