AUTOMATED ACHROMATIC CONTRAST AND CHROMATIC DISCRIMINATION SENSITIVITY TESTING IN DYSTHYROID OPTIC NEUROPATHY

Our experience of patients with dysthyroid eye disease shows that norm al chromatic discrimination sensitivity precludes the diagnosis of opt ic nerve compression (31 patients), and that clinically confirmed opti c nerve compression is invariably associated with decreased chromatic discrimination sensitivity thresholds (8 patients), Dysthyroid patient s enrolled in this study underwent automated achromatic contrast and c hromatic discrimination sensitivity testing on presentation, with repe at assessment of those patients suspected of developing optic nerve co mpression, If chromatic discrimination sensitivity was decreased, pati ents were followed up more frequently. If abnormal chromatic discrimin ation sensitivity was accompanied by a relative afferent pupillary def ect (RAPD) or decreased Snellen visual activity (VA), then optic nerve decompression was performed, The automated chromatic discrimination s ensitivity test described represents a quick, reproducible and cheap c linical test which we feel is of value in assessing patients with dyst hroid eye disease, We suggest that sequential chromatic discrimination sensitivity assessment is a sensitive and effective way of monitoring patients at risk of dysthyroid optic neuropathy.