EVALUATING CONTRAST SENSITIVITY IN AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION USING A NOVEL COMPUTER-BASED TEST, THE SPAETH/RICHMAN CONTRAST SENSITIVITY TEST. Issue 7 (July 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Faria, Bruno M.; Duman, Fulya; Zheng, Cindy X.; Waisbourd, Michael; Gupta, Lalita; Ali, Mohsin; Zangalli, Camila; Lu, Lan; Wizov, Sheryl S.; Spaeth, Eric; Richman, Jesse; Spaeth, George L.
• Is Part Of: Retina. Volume 35:Issue 7(2015:Jul.)
• Publication Date: 2015-07
• Subjects: Retina -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Retinal Diseases; Vitreous Body; 617.735
• DOI: 10.1097/IAE.0000000000000474
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0275-004X

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Background:</title> <p>Contrast sensitivity (CS) is a valuable measure of visual function in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The authors aimed to compare a novel computer-based test (the Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test) with Pelli–Robson test for evaluating CS in patients with AMD.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods:</title> <p>In this prospective cross-sectional study, CS was evaluated in patients with various stages of AMD and healthy controls using Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test and Pelli–Robson test. Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test determined CS scores for 5 areas of vision for each eye (central, superonasal, superotemporal, inferonasal, and inferotemporal) and the total score. Test scores between the two methods were compared using mixed-effects linear regression. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations. Test–retest reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results:</title> <p>Of 35 participants with AMD (54 eyes) and 34 controls (66 eyes), 51% were female and 93% were of European descent. The mean Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test score for the central area and each of the 4 peripheral quadrants was significantly lower for patients with AMD versus controls (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001 for all). The mean Pelli–Robson score was also significantly lower in patients with AMD versus controls (<italic>P</italic> < 0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient for Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test total score and Pelli–Robson score was 0.87 and 0.92, respectively.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusion:</title> <p>Spaeth/Richman Contrast Sensitivity test, a novel Internet-based method of testing CS, had significantly lower scores for patients with AMD compared with controls for central and peripheral vision. This test is a valuable tool for assessing CS in AMD.</p> </sec> </abstract>