CONTRAST SENSITIVITY EVALUATION IN EYES PREDISPOSED TO AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AND PRESENTING NORMAL VISUAL-ACUITY

In order to test the validity of contrast sensitivity (CS) measurement s in the early detection of visual impairment in age-related macular d egeneration (AMD), we have evaluated the findings of CS in patients wi th drusen and normal visual acuity (17 eyes), as well as in the contra lateral 'healthy' eye of patients with AMD (14 eyes). We also tried to -estimate the validity of CS measurements in the prognosis of neovascu lar macular degeneration. The CS findings were evaluated in comparison to the findings of CS measurements in age-matched controls (32 eyes). CS loss is a constant finding in eyes with drusen and normal visual a cuity. CS loss is more important at the middle range and high spatial frequencies. CS loss and degree of CS loss are not prognostic indicato rs of neovascular macular degeneration.