Quantifying the Role of Longitudinal Chromatic Aberration and Age in Night Vision Disturbances

The purpose of this study was to investigate and quantify the influence of stimulus chromaticity on the perception of visual disturbances, specifically halos, under dim lighting conditions. The study also investigated age-related variations in this perception.

Fifty healthy participants were divided into two age groups of 25 each: young adults (<25 years) and older adults (>54 years). The halo perception was quantified using the light disturbance analyser (LDA), a validated device designed to assess visual disturbances such as halos and glare under controlled lighting conditions. To assess the effect of stimulus chromaticity on halo perception, three filters with spectral transmittances centred in the red, green and blue regions of the visible spectrum were used. Measurements were recorded both before and after compensating for longitudinal chromatic aberration (LCA).

In both age groups, white and green colours produced the smallest angular size of the perceived halo, followed by red, whereas blue induced the largest halo size. While LCA compensation under blue light was sufficient for the younger group to perceive a halo size similar to that under white light, this compensation proved insufficient for the older group.

Perceived halo size was greatest when caused by a blue stimulus, followed by red light, while white and green sources yielded halos with comparable, smaller sizes across both age groups. The influence of age on perceived halo size under blue light was statistically significant. Furthermore, LCA compensation resulted in a greater benefit in perceived halo size for the younger, compared with the older group, under blue light.