STATIC CONTRAST SENSITIVITY IN IDIOPATHIC PARKINSONS-DISEASE

During Parkinson's disease static contrast sensitivity (C.S.) abnormal ities are linked to an impairment of the sensitive visual function. C. S. was tested in twelve parkinsonians and 12 controls without neurolog ical and/or ophthalmological pathology, using a Colored Stripes Electr onic Generator (GEPCO). Results for parkinsonians showed a general def iciency over the spectrum of spatial frequencies, which was statistica lly significant and particularly pronounced for intermediate frequenci es. This study was repeated for three patients : it showed threshold d eterioration for two of them, correlated by evolution in the disease, and an improvement for the third patient after introduction of dopathe rapy. C.S. is subjected to dopaminergic control. Among parkinsonians. C.S. deterioration may result in an operating failure of both the visu al cortex and retina, and is improved by dopatherapy. The Static Gepco contrast sensitivity test is easy to reproduce and can be used by mon itor the sensory visual defect in parkinsonian patients under treatmen t.