Vistech proposes developing a new glare tester that will be used to efficiently and effectively measure visual loss due to glare in clinical and performance-related vision evaluations. Current devices lack the ability to quantify visual information in the same language used to measure the sensitivity of the visual system and the factors affecting that system. The proposed glare tester would quantify loss due to glare in terms of contrast sensitivity thresholds across the full range of spatial frequencies processed by the visual system.During this proposed research, subjects without evidence of visual disorders will be tested with specially prepared sine-wave gratings under glare conditions of 0.007, 1.4, 70, and 700 lux. ANOVAs will be performed on the results to determine differences between conditions. Results will also be compared to the large contrast sensitivity database established by Vistech to derive a glare-loss function that may be related to visual task performance.Future Phase II research will include modification of the glare tester for use in disease detection and tracking, including followup of radial keratotomy patients, investigation of glaucoma, and cataract evaluation. Phase II will provide data for the establishment of characteristic signatures of these visual disorders.National Eye Institute (NEI)
