LUMINANCE AND CHROMATIC CONTRAST EFFECTS ON READING AND OBJECT RECOGNITION IN LOW-VISION - A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

This paper reviews the literature on the effects of luminance and chro matic contrast on reading and object recognition in low vision. The ge neral consensus is that whereas luminance contrast can enhance reading and object recognition for some low vision subjects, chromatic contra st does not aid low vision reading but may be useful in low vision obj ect recognition. Although providing useful theoretical results, the ex perimental designs have so far been remote from the conditions that lo w vision patients may experience in the home and work environment. Sug gestions are made for an 'ideal' experimental design and details of cu rrent research, using conditions more likely to be experienced by low vision subjects in everyday life, are given. This research makes use o f a recently developed instrument, the Intuitive Colorimeter(R).