Contrast sensitivity and central vision in reattached macula

Macular functions were studied in patients recovering after surgery for retinal detachment involving the macula. Central vision was assessed by visual acuity, grating acuity, metamorphopsia, and contrast sensitivity tests for 5 months up to 3 years post-operatively. Impairment of contrast sensitivity was generally observed at high and intermediate spatial frequencies as compared to age-matched controls. In 2 cases, both with low visual acuity, an attenuation was also found at low spatial frequencies. Reductions of visual and grating acuity were closely related indicating that the test target for acuity determination is of minor importance in evaluating recovery in retinal detachments. The majority of the patients studied had different degrees of metamorphopsia. The reduction of the contrast sensitivity at intermediate spatial frequencies corresponded to the reduction in acuity. Our study thus presents no evidence for a selective vulnerability of specific contrast channels unrelated to acuity loss.