Normative contrast sensitivity values for the back-lit Melbourne Edge Test and the effect of visual impairment

  1. Frank Eperjesi1,
  2. James Wolffsohn1,
  3. Jason Bowden1,
  4. Genevieve Napper2,
  5. Martin Rubinstein3

Article first published online: 19 OCT 2004

DOI: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2004.00248.x

Issue

Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics

Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics

Volume 24, Issue 6, pages 600–606, November 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Eperjesi, F., Wolffsohn, J., Bowden, J., Napper, G. and Rubinstein, M. (2004), Normative contrast sensitivity values for the back-lit Melbourne Edge Test and the effect of visual impairment. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics, 24: 600–606. doi: 10.1111/j.1475-1313.2004.00248.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Neuroscience Research Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK

  2. 2

    Victorian College of Optometry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  3. 3

    Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, University Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK

*Correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr F. Eperjesi. Tel.: 00 44 121 359 3611 (ext. 5158); Fax: 00 44 121 333 4220. E-mail address: f.eperjesi@aston.ac.uk

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 OCT 2004
  2. Article first published online: 19 OCT 2004
  3. Received: 22 March 2004 Revised form: 16 July, 8 August 2004 Accepted: 10 August 2004

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Keywords:

  • contrast sensitivity;
  • low vision;
  • Melbourne Edge Test;
  • normative values;
  • visual impairment

Abstract

Background:  The Melbourne Edge Test (MET) is a portable forced-choice edge detection contrast sensitivity (CS) test. The original externally illuminated paper test has been superseded by a backlit version. The aim of this study was to establish normative values for age and to assess change with visual impairment.

Method:  The MET was administered to 168 people with normal vision (18–93 years old) and 93 patients with visual impairment (39–97 years old). Distance visual acuity (VA) was measured with a log MAR chart.

Results:  In those eyes without disease, MET CS was stable until the age of 50 years (23.8 ± 0.7 dB) after which it decreased at a rate of ≈1.5 dB per decade. Compared with normative values, people with low vision were found to have significantly reduced CS, which could not be totally accounted for by reduced VA.

Conclusions:  The MET provides a quick and easy measure of CS, which highlights a reduction in visual function that may not be detectable using VA measurements.

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