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Repeatability of mesopic visual acuity measurements using high- and low-contrast ETDRS letter charts

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the repeatability of mesopic high-contrast (HC) and low-contrast (LC) visual acuity (VA) measurements made at distance and near in healthy young individuals. While the repeatability of photopic VA is well-known, there is a lack of information with regard to the repeatability of VA measured under low luminance conditions.

Methods

In two different sessions 1 week apart, best-corrected monocular VA was determined using HC (96 %) and LC (10 %) ETDRS charts under mesopic luminance conditions (0.75 cd/m2) at distance (HCD, LCD) and near (HCN, LCN) in 47 healthy subjects aged 22.9 ± 6.8 years. Repeatability was estimated by the Bland and Altman method, whereby the mean difference (MD) and the 95 % limits of agreement were determined as the coefficient of repeatability (COR).

Results

Mean logMAR VA values were HCD = 0.09, LCD = 0.44, HCN = 0.21, and LCN = 0.57. Mean differences in measurements between sessions 1 and 2 were not significant, and low in clinical terms (≤1 letter). Repeatability was better for the distance measurements at both high and lowcontrast (COR HCD ±0.11 and COR LCD ±0.11 logMAR vs COR HCN ±0.15 and COR LCN ±0.16 logMAR), and MDs were also slightly closer to zero for the distance measurements. Similar repeatability was observed between HC and LC VA, both at distance and near.

Conclusions

In mesopic conditions, ETDRS charts offer repeatable best-corrected monocular VA measurements. The criterion for a significant change in logMAR VA was 1 line at distance and 1.5 lines at near.

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Conflict of interest

All authors certify that they have NO affiliations with or involvement in any organization or entity with any financial interest (such as honoraria; educational grants; participation in speakers’ bureaus; membership, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, or other equity interest; and expert testimony or patent-licensing arrangements) or non-financial interest (such as personal or professional relationships, affiliations, knowledge, or beliefs) in the subject matter or materials discussed in this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Applied Vision Research Group, Faculty of Optics and Optometry, Complutense University of Madrid, Av. Arcos de Jalón 118, 28037, Madrid, Spain

    Ana Barrio, Beatriz Antona & María C. Puell

Authors
  1. Ana Barrio
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  2. Beatriz Antona
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  3. María C. Puell
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Correspondence to Ana Barrio.

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Barrio, A., Antona, B. & Puell, M.C. Repeatability of mesopic visual acuity measurements using high- and low-contrast ETDRS letter charts. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 253, 791–795 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2876-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-014-2876-z

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