Colour vision anomalies following experimental glaucoma in monkeys

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Abstract
Spectral sensitivity defects, associated with chronic elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) produced by Argon laser trabeculoplasty, were studied in monkeys. Increment-threshold spectral sensitivity (ITSS) and threshold versus intensity (TVI) functions were measured using a behavioural model. Elevated IOP resulted in short wavelength (SW) sensitivity losses characteristic of many ocular diseases. The amount of SW sensitivity loss for ITSS functions depended upon the intensity level and chromatic composition of the background field. The optimum condition identifying the greatest SW sensitivity reduction was a yellow background of moderate intensity (100-1000 Td). In the early stages of experimental glaucoma, the cone mechanisms and the rod mechanism typically showed decreased test and field sensitivities. The SW cone pathway has slightly greater threshold elevation (approximately 0.3 log unit) compared to the rod and cone pathways. On the other hand, in the advanced stages of experimental glaucoma, the largest sensitivity losses were in the longer-wavelength, red-green opponent mechanisms, with the rod and SW cone pathways showing smaller losses. The similarities of the colour vision anomalies in this animal model with those of patients with glaucoma, provides support for its use as an experimental model for human glaucoma.