[A new method of assessing contrast sensitivity in patients with eye diseases]

A new method for examining spatial contrast sensitivity (SCS) is described, making use of the display of an IBM-compatible computer, on which sinusoidal patterns are presented: achromatic and chromatic red, green, blue against the black background at a frequency of 0.5 to 22 cycles/degree. In health similarity of curves to the achromatic and chromatic patterns was observed, with the maximal sensitivity at spatial frequencies from 2 to 8 cycles/degree and a reduction at low and high spatial frequencies. In patients with the initial open-angle glaucoma the SCS at the high spatial frequencies was reduced for all colors with "dips" at the medium spatial frequencies in response to the blue pattern. In patients with albinism the SCS to achromatic and chromatic patterns were appreciably decreased in the entire range of spatial frequencies and absent at all in the range of high spatial frequencies. The method is recommended for investigating the channels of achromatic and chromatic spatial sensitivity, detecting the contribution of color receptors to the color contrast, and for the initial diagnosis of diseases of the retina and optic nerve.