CONTRAST SENSITIVITY MEASUREMENT IN RETINAL DISEASES BY LASER GENERATED SINUSOIDAL GRATING

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Abstract
The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) of 83 patients with retinal diseases was measured by laser-generated sinusoidal grating pattern; this enabled the direct measurement on the CSF between the retina and the brain. The CSF abnormality in various retinal diseases was not specific to each diseae, and the severity may determine the pattern. The abnormal patterns and rough correlation with visual acuity (VA) are as follows: attenuation at high frequency ranges (VA > 0.8) attenuation at intermediate and high frequency ranges (0.4 < VA < 0.7) and attenuation at all frequency ranges (VA < 0.3). Some cases showed discrepancy between visual acuity and CSF. At the recovery stage of central serous retinopathy and retinal branch vein occlusion, CSF showed delayed recovery or attenuated sensitivity even when visual acuity was restored to > 1.0. In retinitis pigmentosa and preretinal macular fibrosis, CSF showed more sensitive detection of abnormal macular function than visual acuity measurement. At the postcorticosteroid therapy of Harada''s disease and sympathetic ophthalmia, CSF recovered more rapidly than visual acuity when retinal detachment was absorbed. CSF measurement may be useful for evaluating progression or regression of these diseases.