Abstract

The contrast sensitivity function (CSF) is defined by measuring contrast sensitivities at several spatial frequencies. Consequently, the analysis of change in the CSF (e.g., over time, as a result of intervention such as surgery, etc.) is not as straightforward as that of other single number outcomes such as acuity. The analysis of change in the CSF has been handled in a variety of ways including: 1) multivariate ANOVA analysis comparing CS data from all spatial frequencies measured simultaneously (Tomlinson & Caroline, 1988); 2) separate t-test on CS data at each spatial frequency measured (Krasnov, Avetisov, Makashova, & Mamikonian, 1988); and 3) reducing the function to single number such as using estimates of the peak of the CSF as given by the Pelli-Robson chart (Pelli, Robson, & Wilkins, 1988).

© 1997 Optical Society of America