Abstract

Clinical applications of the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) have dramatically increased over the past decade. The CSF has been recommended for use in diagnosing vision disorders as diverse as glaucoma, age-related maculopathy, and retinitis pigmentosa. The CSF has also been proposed as a test for visual screening, as a technique for assessing visual function in patients with low vision, and even as a means of increasing revenue in clinical practice. Traditional methods for measuring contrast sensitivity require relatively expensive and sophisticated equipment and employ time-consuming psychophysical procedures. Recently, several contrast sensitivity tests have been developed, primarily for clinical use, which are inexpensive, quick, and simple to administer. The value of these new tests depends on the accuracy and reliability with which they measure contrast sensitivity.

© 1987 Optical Society of America