[The variation of human contrast sensitivity with age and optic nerve disease]

Contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was measured in 85 normal subjects and in 23 patients with optic neuropathy, using a personal computer and video monitor system. CSF in normal controls showed an inverted U-shaped function against spatial frequency with a peak at about 4-6 cycles/degree. At higher spatial frequencies, contrast sensitivity decreased with increasing age. CSF in patients was compared with Snellen acuity, visual field examination, critical flicker fusion frequency (CFF) and pattern VEP (P-VEP). CSF and P-VEP were more sensitive than the others in detecting visual dysfunction in optic nerve disease. These results suggest that ranges of normal values should be established for each of several age groups, and that CSF is useful for evaluating visual dysfunction.