Associations Between Contrast Sensitivity and Aging

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess age-related visual functions (visual acuity and contrast sensitivity) and compare the results by different age groups.

Material And Methods: A total of 231 patients were examined. The patients were divided into 5 age groups: 10 patients in group 1, 30-39 years; 40 patients in the group 2, 40-49 years; 77 patients in the group 3, 50-59 years; 71 patients in the group 4, 60-70 years; and 33 patients in the group 5, 71-85 years. A typical Snellen's chart (the direction of the gap in Landolt C) was used for noncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity testing. Contrast sensitivity was evaluated by employing a Ginsburg Box, VSCR-CST-6500.

Results: Noncorrected visual acuity was significantly better in the group 2 than the group 3 (0.86 [0.28] vs. 0.69 [0.33], P=0.018). Moreover, noncorrected and best-corrected visual acuity was significantly better in the group 4 than the group 5 (0.52 [0.35] vs. 0.35 [0.28], P<0.001; and 0.9 [0.21] vs. 0.69 [0.27], P<0.005, respectively). Contrast sensitivity at the nighttime without glare was significantly worse in the group 2 than the group 1 at the spatial frequencies of 3, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (P=0.001, P=0.05, and P=0.01, respectively). The patients in the group 2 had significantly worse contrast sensitivity at the nighttime and daytime with glare at the spatial frequencies of 1.5, 12, and 18 cycles per degree (P=0.054, P=0.04, and P=0.01 and P=0.011, P=0.031, and P=0.011, respectively). The greatest differences in contrast sensitivity were observed between the groups 4 and 5, and it was 2 to 4 times better in the group 4. Comparing these groups, all the differences at the nighttime and daytime with and without glare were significant.

Conclusions: Contrast sensitivity was worst among the oldest persons (71-85 years), and it began to worsen already in the persons aged 40-49 years. Contrast sensitivity was very similar in the age groups of 40-49 and 50-59 years.