Microdot test of foveal function. A comparison with visual acuity at high and low contrast

• PURPOSE: To define normal values across age from novel computerized tests of foveal vision and to compare the findings with visual acuity (VA) at high and low contrast. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Sixty-one healthy volunteers, aged 22-87, with subjectively normal vision participated in the study. The right eye from each subject was tested with Snellen letter VA at high contrast, at 10% contrast using the Tri-VA test and with the Rarebit Microdot Fovea Test (RMFT), in addition to biomicroscopy and fundus examination. RESULTS: The median letter VA was 0.77 minimum angle of resolution (MAR; range 0.63-1.54) with a significant decline in letter VA with increasing age (r = 0.7, p < 0.001). The median Tri-VA resolution threshold at 10% contrast was 1.8 MAR (range 0.9-4.1) and a significant age effect (r = 0.7) was observed, most pronounced above 65 years. The median RMFT hit rate was 100% (range 97-100) in the age group below 65 years and 87.5% (range 34-98) in subjects older than 65 years. CONCLUSION: The study shows a decline in foveal function with age with all three methods, reflecting the loss of neural detectors with increasing age. The hit rate to microdot stimuli appears to be a sensitive measure, which can be used for fine-graded evaluation of foveal function.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Oftalmologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Ophthalmology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Annan medicin och hälsovetenskap -- Gerontologi, medicinsk/hälsovetenskaplig inriktning (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Other Medical and Health Sciences -- Gerontology, specialising in Medical and Health Sciences (hsv//eng)

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art (subject category)