There is a need for simpler methods of perimetry – the measurement of retinal sensitivity at different visual field locations. In a recent paper in the journal Vision Research, Anne Vrijling, Minke de Boer and colleagues describe how contrast affects performance in a continuous gaze tracking task. This is a promising new approach for perimetry in particular for persons for whom the standard method is too hard. Our very intuitive task requires the participant to do nothing more than follow a moving dot on a screen with their eyes. Much more simpler than this it can’t get. But, for this to become a sensitive test, a detailed understanding of how performance depends on age, dot movement and contrast is essential. This study, that was carried out as part of the Promise project, provides that knowledge. Want to know more? You can find the paper here.
The graph shows how performance depends on the level of contrast. Older observers (gray symbols) need about twice the contrast compared to younger ones (white symbols) to perform similarly. This information will be used to optimize our continuous tracking-based approach to perimetry for different ages groups.
