Test-Retest Variability of Quick Contrast Sensitivity Function Testing

The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) provides a comprehensive characterization of spatial vision and predicts functional vision better than visual acuity, but long testing times prevent its psychophysical assessment in clinical applications. Dr. Luis Lesmes et al. (2010) developed the qCSF method to obtain precise CSF measurements in only 30-50 trials using a computerized software program that presents letters on a large monitor that are identified by a patient similar to typical visual acuity testing with an eye chart. The quick CSF method is a Bayesian adaptive method that estimates the full shape of the CSF, and the test duration is only about 3-6 minutes. Some preliminary testing has been performed at other sites with this test in patients with vision loss due to amblyopia and glaucoma, but data from individuals without eye disease who have normal visual acuity has not been systematically collected with the latest version of this test procedure across a wide range of ages. In addition, we aim to gain a better understanding of the typical test-retest variability that is obtained between-sessions that are about a week apart from individuals with good ocular health and visual acuity.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: quick Contrast Sensitivity Function test

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 100

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Florida
    • Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States, 33328
      • Nova Southeastern University; College of Optometry

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 20 years to 89 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Individuals between the ages of 20-89 without ocular disease will be recruited from among patients seen in the Primary Eye Care Clinic at the Nova Southeastern University's The Eye Care Institute in Davie-Ft. Lauderdale, FL, as well as faculty, students and staff at this institution.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Ages 20-89
• Normal distance visual acuity in each of both eyes (20/20)
• Absence of ocular disease
• Able and willing to complete contrast sensitivity testing
• Provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Any ocular disease
• Refractive errors >6D
• Inability to understand study or communicate responses (cognitive impairment)
• Unable to understand, read and speak English fluently

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Normals without ocular disease	Other: quick Contrast Sensitivity Function test

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
95% coefficient of repeatability across subjects	We will evaluate various contrast sensitivity metrics that are generated by the computer program: (i) AULCSF or area under the curve for the log contrast sensitivity function (CSF), (ii) CSF acuity or the cutoff-frequency at which sensitivity=2.0 is calculated, and (iii) contrast sensitivity at various spatial frequencies (i.e. 1.5, 3, 6, 12, 18.5 cycles per degree), obtained with testing performed binocularly, with the better eye monocularly, and with the better eye using a NoIR 4% transmission filter. Within subject, the data will be analyzed as differences between the two values obtained at the two sessions, which can then be used to determine a 95% coefficient of repeatability across subjects.	test-retest at 2 visits about a week apart

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Nova Southeastern University
• Collaborators: Adaptive Sensory Technology
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ava K Bittner, OD, PhD, Nova Southeastern University; College of Optometry

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Dorr M, Lesmes LA, Lu ZL, Bex PJ. Rapid and reliable assessment of the contrast sensitivity function on an iPad. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2013 Nov 5;54(12):7266-73. doi: 10.1167/iovs.13-11743.
• Lesmes LA, Lu ZL, Baek J, Albright TD. Bayesian adaptive estimation of the contrast sensitivity function: the quick CSF method. J Vis. 2010 Mar 30;10(3):17.1-21. doi: 10.1167/10.3.17.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: June 1, 2014
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Actual): November 1, 2016

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 26, 2014
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 27, 2014
• First Posted (Estimate): June 30, 2014

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 11, 2017
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 10, 2017
• Last Verified: April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Normal, healthy individuals without ocular disease; Ages 20-89; English speaking; Visual acuity better than 20/25
• Other Study ID Numbers: 05291468Exp; R21EY023720 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract); Adaptive Sensory Technology (Other Grant/Funding Number: Adaptive Sensory Technology)