CONTRAST SENSITIVITY & AGING

Contrast Sensitivity Changes With Age As we get older, we lose contrast sensitivity, first at the higher spatial frequencies, then for all the spatial frequencies as seen below.

We need regular checkups that include contrast sensitivity testing to monitor and assess the need for changes in our vision. (In references, see: Owsley C, et al. Contrast sensitivity throughout adulthood.)

Age & Highway Sign Discriminability This performance-related study of driver vision standards was concerned with whether contrast sensitivity testing could predict age-related differences in discriminating basic road signs. Contrast sensitivity, Snellen visual acuity, and discrimination distances for projected moving images of highway signs were measured for seven older observers, ages 55 to 79, and 13 younger observers, ages 19 to 30. Although all subjects had 20/20 visual acuity or better, the older group had significantly lower contrast sensitivity than the younger group at three spatial frequencies-- 3, 6 and 12 cycles per degree (cpd) of visual angle. The older group, having to get 24 percent closer to the sign, required a significantly larger sign symbol in order to determine if it denoted a "+" or a "T" intersection.

"+" and "T" intersection signs.

Correlations between measures showed that highway sign discrimination distance was significantly related to contrast sensitivity at two spatial frequencies, 1.5 and 12 cpd, but discrimination distance was not related to visual acuity.

The younger group could discriminate the road signs at significantly greater distances than the older group, even though there was no difference in Snellen acuity between the groups. A significant age-related drop in visual capability was also found with contrast sensitivity. Furthermore, significant relationships were found between contrast sensitivity at two spatial frequencies and discrimination distance, although no significant relationship was found between Snellen acuity and discrimination distance. (In references, see: Evans DW, Ginsburg AP. Contrast sensitivity predicts age-related differences in highway-sign dicriminability.)

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