Temporal modulation transfer function in patients with retinal diseases

The temporal modulation transfer function (temporal MTF) was measured in normal controls and in patients with various retinal diseases. Temporal MTF of controls showed band-pass filter properties, having a peak sensitivity at about 10 Hz at 1,000 Troland of retinal luminance. As the retinal luminance was reduced, the sensitivity decreased first at high temporal frequencies; then the peak sensitivity decreased, and finally at low temporal frequencies the sensitivity decreased and the peak shifted to the left. In retinal diseases, abnormal temporal MTFs were detected, and the curves were very similar to those of normal controls when retinal luminance was reduced. These patterns were not specific to any retinal diseases, and the severity of the conditions seemed to determine the pattern.