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Computer tests with artificial pupil establish link between contrast sensitivity, spherical aberration
J Cataract Refract Surg. 2009;35(1):47-56.
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The influence of spherical aberration on contrast sensitivity was identified with computer tests and artificial pupils, but chart testing proved ineffective in pinpointing correlations between contrast sensitivity and spherical aberration, a study found.
"Chart contrast sensitivity tests are not suitable," the authors said. "Unfortunately, computer tests are difficult to perform in a clinical setting due to the long testing times and high costs. Therefore, contrast sensitivity testing is not an easy-to-apply tool for the assessment of spherical aberration and the changes in it."
The study included 49 healthy subjects assigned to two age groups: 20 to 35 years and 55 to 70 years. Two experimental designs were used. One involved a natural pupil under mesopic and photopic conditions, and the other involved a 5-mm artificial pupil in photopic conditions only.
Results showed no difference in mean spherical aberration with natural pupils between the younger group and older group in mesopic conditions or photopic conditions. However, the older patients had a significantly greater mean spherical aberration than the younger patients with spherical aberration measured with an artificial pupil (P = .045).
"These findings suggest that the lens is the primary cause of loss of visual performance with age," the authors said.