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Quantification of color vision with cone contrast sensitivity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 April 2005

JEFF RABIN
JEFF RABIN
Affiliation:
College of Optometry, Pacific University, and U.S. Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory, Fort Rucker
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Abstract

Human color vision is based fundamentally on three separate cone photopigments. Hereditary color deficiency, which affects up to 10% of males, results from an absorption shift or lack of L or M cone phototoreceptors. While hereditary S cone deficiency is rare, decreased S cone sensitivity occurs early in eye disease, underscoring the importance of quantifying S cone function. Our purpose is to describe a novel approach for quantifying human color vision based on the photopigments of normal color vision. Colored letters, visible to a single cone type, are presented in graded steps of cone contrast to determine the threshold for letter recognition. This approach quantifies normal color vision, indicates type and severity of hereditary deficiency, and reveals sensitivity decrements in various diseases.

Keywords

Contrast sensitivityCone contrastColor visionVisual acuity
Type
Research Article
Information
Visual Neuroscience , Volume 21 , Issue 3 , May 2004 , pp. 483 - 485
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

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