Impairments of contrast discrimination and contrast adaptation in glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose. Contrast detection is commonly measured clinically; however, discrimination between contrasts is also important for natural vision. Furthermore, optimal performance requires the visual system to adapt to ambient contrast conditions. Recent studies of primate neurophysiology demonstrate significant retinal involvement in contrast adaptation. This study was conducted to investigate whether glaucoma alters contrast adaptation. Both detection and discrimination task performance were examined. Methods. Psychophysical contrast detection and discrimination thresholds were measured in central vision, for a vertically oriented D6 centered on 3 cyc/deg. Thresholds were measured with and witho..