Psychophysical Measurements of Luminance Contrast Sensitivity and Color Discrimination with Transparent and Blue-Light Filter Intraocular Lenses

Author(s)

da Costa, Marcelo Fernandes ^{[1, 2]} ; Paranhos Junior, Augusto ^{[3, 4]} ; Lottenberg, Claudio Luiz ^[3] ; Castro, Leonardo Cunha ^[4] ; Ventura, Dora Fix ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Psicol Expt, Inst Psicol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Nucleo Neurociencias & Comportamento & Neurocienc, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Hosp Israelita Albert Einstein, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Oftalmol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: OPHTHALMOLOGY AND THERAPY; v. 6, n. 2, p. 301-312, DEC 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to measure luminance contrast sensitivity and color vision thresholdfs in normal subjects using a blue light filter lens and transparent intraocular lens material. Monocular luminance grating contrast sensitivity was measured with Psycho for Windows (version 2.36; Cambridge Research Systems) at 3.0, 6.0, 12.0, 20.0, and 30.0 cycles per degree of visual angle (cpd) in 15 normal subjects (eight female), with a mean age of 21.6 years (SD = 3.8 years). Chromatic discrimination was assessed with the Cambridge colour test (CCT) along the protan, deutan, and tritan color confusion axes. Both tests were performed in a darkened room under two situations: with a transparent lens and with blue light filter lens. Subjective impressions were taken by subjects regarding their visual experience under both conditions. No difference was found between the luminance contrast sensitivity measured with transparent and blue light filter. However, 13/15 (87%) of the subjects reported more comfortable vision with the blue filter. In the color vision test, tritan thresholds were significantly higher for the blue filter compared with the transparent filter (p = 0.003). For protan and deutan thresholds no differences were found. Blue-yellow color vision is impaired with the blue light filter, and no impairment occurs with the transparent filter. No significant differences in thresholds were found in the luminance contrast sensitivity comparing the blue light and transparent filters. The impact of short wavelength light filtering on intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells is also discussed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 02/12733-8 - Sensory losses caused by mercury intoxication: psychophysical and neurophysiological studies in patients and in animal models
• Grantee: Dora Selma Fix Ventura
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants