Contrast Sensitivity in Army Aviator Candidates: Cycloplegia Effects and Population Norms

Abstract

This study was designed to provide information regarding three aspects of contrast sensitivity testing aviator candidates: 1. To determine whether contrast sensitivity functions (CSFs) obtained with the VISTECH Visual Contrast Test System (VCTs) are affected by ocular cycloplegia; 2. Since Army aviator candidates differ from the general population by being more highly selected with respect to visual and refractive status, more homogenous in age and in an age bracket when vision is optimal, a second purpose was to obtain a large normative sample of CSFs for establishing future contrast sensitivity standards for this population; and 3. To determine whether the VCTS provides useful CSFs under clinical screening conditions in a timely and simple manner. Contrast sensitivity thresholds were obtained at 5 spatial frequencies from 106 aviator candidates, prior to and following the administration of a cycloplegic. Contrast sensitivity functions obtained under cycloplegia were reduced about 20 percent. The CSFs of the aviator candidates are much superior than the general population norms. The VCTS provides useful CSFs under military screening conditions.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 1988
Accession Number
ADA200433

Entities

People

  • Isaac Behar
  • Walter Egenmaier
  • William G. Bachman

Organizations

  • United States Army Aeromedical Research Lab

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Air Force Facilities
  • Army Aviation
  • Binoculars
  • Biomedical Research
  • Classification
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Eye Diseases
  • Frequency
  • Health Services
  • Measurement
  • Military Research
  • Security
  • Standards
  • Target Acquisition
  • Training

Readers

  • Computational Modeling and Simulation
  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Vision Science/Vision Psychology/Cognitive Neuroscience.