Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aging and Spatial Contrast Sensitivity: Underlying Mechanisms and Implications for Everyday Life

  • Chapter
The Changing Visual System

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((NSSA,volume 222))

  • 165 Accesses

Abstract

With the percentage of older adults in our society on the increase, there is a pressing need to better understand the functional problems of the elderly, and to identify ways in which the quality of life can be maintained at a high level despite advancing age. One area of special concern is vision loss in later life, and how it impacts the performance of routine tasks that depend critically on vision. The goal of our laboratory over the past decade has been to use psychophysical techniques to not only describe the types of vision problems that older adults experience, but also to uncover the optical and neural mechanisms which underlie these deficits. In addition, our interest goes beyond simply measuring visual deficits in laboratory tasks; we are ultimately interested in discovering why many older adults have difficulty in performing everyday visual activities, such as driving, postural stability, navigating through the environment, and recognizing people.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adams A.J., Wang L.S., Wong L., and Gould B. (1988) Visual acuity changes with age: Some new perspectives. American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics 65, 403–406.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allen M. and Vos J.J. (1967) Ocular scattered light and visual performance as a function of age. American Journal of Optometry and Physiological Optics 44, 717–727.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arden G.B. (1978) The importance of measuring contrast sensitivity in cases of visual disturbance. British Journal of Ophthalmology 62, 198–209.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arden G.B. and Jacobsen J. (1978) A simple grating test for contrast sensitivity: Preliminary results indicate value for screening in glaucoma. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 17, 23–32.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arundale K. (1978) An investigation into the variation of human contrast sensitivity with age and ocular pathology. British Journal of Ophthalmology 62, 213–215.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Balaszi A.G., Rootmen J., Drance S.M., Schulzer M., and Douglas G.R. (1984) The effect of age on the nerve fiber population of the human optic nerve. American Journal of Ophthalmology 97, 760–766.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball K., Beard B.L., Roenker D.L., Miller R.L., and Griggs D.S. (1988) Age and visual search: Expanding the useful field of view. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 5, 2210–2219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ball K. and Owsley C. (1991) Identifying correlates of accident involvement for the older driver. Human Factors (to appear in October 1991 issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball K., Owsley C., Sloane M.E., Roenker D.L., and Bruni J.R. (unpublished manuscript) Visual attention problems as a predictor of vehicle accidents among older drivers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball K., Phillips G., and Sekuler R. (1986) Improved spatial frequency discrimination related to acuity and age. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 27, 111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ball K., Roenker D.L., and Bruni J.R. (1990) Developmental changes in attention and visual search throughout adulthood. In J. Enns (Ed.) Advances in Psychology 69,489–508.

    Google Scholar 

  • Banks M.S. (1982) The development of spatial and temporal contrast sensitivity. Current Eye Research 2, 191–198.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barlow H.B. (1972) Dark and light adaptation: Psychophysics. In D. Jameson and L.M. Hurvich (Eds.) Handbook of Sensory Physiology Vol. VII/4, Visual Psychophysics, pp. 1–55. New York: Springer-Verlag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bobak P., Bodis-Wollner, I., Harnois C., and Thorton J. (1984) VEP’s in humans reveal high and low spatial contrast mechanisms. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 25, 980–983.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bodis-Wollner I. and Camisa J.M. (1980) Contrast sensitivity measurement in clinical diagnosis. In S. Lessell and J.T.W. van Dalen (Eds.) Neuro-ophthalmology, pp. 373–401. Amsterdam: Excerpta Medica.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowker D.O. (1983) Suprathreshold spatio-temporal response characteristics of the human visual system. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 73, 436–441.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brody H. (1955) Organization of the cerebral cortex. III. A study of aging in the human cerebral cortex. Journal of Comparative Neurology 102, 511–566.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Brody H. (1973) Aging of the vertebrate brain. In M. Rockstein and M.L. Sussman (Eds.) Development of Aging in the Nervous System,pp. 121–133. New York: Academic Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Bullimore M.A., Bailey I.L., and Wacker R.T. (1991) Face recognition in age-related maculopathy. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 32, 2020–2029.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burton K.B., Owsley C., and Sloane M.E. (1991) Aging and “neural” spatial contrast sensitivity. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 32, 1274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell F.W. and Green D.G. (1965) Optical and retinal factors affecting visual resolution. Journal of Physiology (London) 181, 576–593.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Curcio C.A., Allen K.A., and Kalina R.E. (1990) Reorganization of the human photoreceptor mosaic following age-related rod loss. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 31, 38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Derefeldt G., Lennerstrand G., and Lundh B. (1979) Age variations in normal human contrast sensitivity. Acta Ophthalmologica 57, 679–690.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De Valois R.L., Morgan H., and Snodderley D.M. (1974) Psychophysical studies of monkey vision III. Spatial luminance contrast sensitivity tests of macaque and human observers. Vision Research 14, 75–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Devaney K.O. and Johnson H.A. (1980) Neuron loss in the aging visual cortex of man. Journal of Gerontology 35, 836–841.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dressler M. and Rassow B. (1981) Neural contrast sensitivity measurements with a laser interference system for clinical and screening application. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 21, 737–744.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker D.N. and Curcio C.A. (1990) Retinal ganglion cells are lost with aging but not in Alzheimer s disease. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 31, 356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Early F. and Smith A.T. (1990) Spatial frequency discrimination in normal ageing and in one case of Alzheimer s disease. Clinical Vision Sciences 6, 59–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliott D.B. (1987) Contrast sensitivity decline with ageing: A neural or optical phenomenon? Ophthalmic & Physiological Optics 7, 415–419.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott D.B., Whitaker D., and MacVeigh D. (1990) Neural contribution to spatiotemporal contrast sensitivity decline in healthy eyes. Vision Research 30, 541–547.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gao H., Rayborn M.E., Myers K.M., and Hollyfield J.G. (1990) Differential loss of neurons during aging of human retina. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 31, 357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Georgeson M.A. and Sullivan G.D. (1975) Contrast constancy: deblurring in human vision by spatial frequency channels. Journal of Physiology (London) 252, 627–656.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Henderson R. and Burg A. (1974) Vision and audition in driving (Tech. Rep. No. TM[L]5297/000/00). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Transportation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Higgins K.E, Jaffe M.J., Caruso R.C., and deMonasterio F.M. (1988) Spatial contrast sensitivity: Effects of age, test-retest, and psychophysical method. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 5, 2173–2180.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hills B.L. and Burg A. (1977) A re-analysis of California driver vision data: General findings (Report 768). Crowthorne, England: Transport and Road Research Laboratory.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ijspeert J.K., de Waard, P.W.T., van den Berg, T.J.T.P., and de Jong, P.T.V.M.(1990) The intraocular straylight function in 129 healthy volunteers; dependence on angle, age and pigmentation. Vision Research 30, 699–707.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jankelovits E.R., Lichtenstein S.J., Groll, S.L., Remijan P.W., and Hirsch, J. (1988) Assessment of retinal function in cataract patients by a combination of laser interferometry and conventional display methods to measure contrast sensitivity. Applied Optics 27, 1057–1063.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jay J.L., Mammo R.B., and Allan D. (1987) Effect of age on visual acuity after cataract extraction. British Journal of Ophthalmology 71, 112–115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson M.A. and Choy D. (1987) On the definition of age-related norms for visual function testing. Applied Optics 26, 1449–1454.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kayazawa K., Yamamoto T., and Itoi M. (1981) Clinical measurement of contrast sensitivity function using laser generated sinusoidal grating. Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology 25, 229–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline D.W. and Schieber F. (1985) Vision and aging. In J.E. Birren and K.W. Schaie (Eds.) Handbook of the Psychology of Aging, Ch. 12, pp. 296–331. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kline D.W., Schieber, F., Abusamra L.C., and Coyne A.C. (1983) Age, the eye, and visual channels: Contrast sensitivity and response speed. Journal of Gerontology 38, 211–216.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kosnik W., Winslow L., Kline D., Rasinski K., and Sekuler R. (1988) Vision changes in daily life throughout adulthood. Journal of Gerontology 43, 63–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leibowitz H.M., Krueger D.E., Maunder L.R., Milton R.C., Kini M.M., Kahn H.A., Nickerson R.J., Pool J., Colton T.L., Ganley J.P., Loewenstein J.I., and Dawber T.R. (1980) The Framingham eye study monograph. Survey of Ophthalmology (Supplement) 24, 335–610.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ludwig F.C. and Smoke M.E. (1980) The measurement of biological aging. Experimental Aging Research 6, 497–521.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J. (1987) The ageing retina: physiology or pathology. Eye 1, 282–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, J., Grindle J., Ansell P.L., and Borwein B. (1980) Convolution in human rods: an aging process. British Journal of Ophthalmology 63, 181–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marshall J. and Laties A. The special pathology of the aging macula. In M.M. La Vail, J.G. Hollyfield, and R.E. Anderson (Eds.) Retinal Degeneration: Experimental and Clinical Studies. New York: Liss.

    Google Scholar 

  • McFarland R.A., Domey R.G., Warren A.B., and Ward D.C. (1960) Dark adaptation as a function of age: I. A statistical analysis. Journal of Gerontology 15, 149–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGrath C. and Morrison J.D. (1981) The effects of age on spatial frequency perception in human subjects. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 66, 253–261.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison J.D. and McGrath C. (1985) Assessment of the optical contributions to the age-related deterioration in vision. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Physiology 70, 249–269.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Morrison J.D. and Reilly J. (1986) An assessment of decision-making as a possible factor in the the age-related loss of contrast sensitivity. Perception 15, 541–552.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nameda N., Kawara T., and Ohzu H. (1989) Human visual spatio-temporal frequency performance as a function of age. Optometry and Vision Science 66, 760–765.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (1989) Conference on Research and Development Needed to Improve Safety and Mobility of Older Drivers. (Report Number DOT HS 807 554). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Transportation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C., Ball K., Sloane M.E., Roenker D.L., and Bruni J.R. (1991) Visual/cognitive correlates of vehicle accidents in older drivers. Psychology and Aging (to appear in September 1991 issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C., Gardner T, Sekuler R., and Lieberman H. (1985) Role of the crystalline lens in the spatial vision loss of the elderly. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 26, 1165–1170.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C., Kline D, Werner J., Greenstein V., and Marshall J. (1986) Optical radiation effects on aging and visual perception. In M. Waxier, V. Hitchens (Eds.) Optical Radiation and Visual Health,pp. 125–136. Boca Raton FL: CRC Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C., Sekuler R, and Boldt C. (1981) Aging and low contrast vision: Face perception. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 21, 362–365.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C., Sekuler R., and Siemsen D. (1983) Contrast sensitivity throughout adulthood. Vision Research 23, 689–699.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C. and Sloane M.E. (1987) Contrast sensitivity and the perception of “real-world” targets. British Journal of Ophthalmology 71, 791–796.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Owsley C. and Sloane M.E. (1990) Vision and aging. In F. Boller and J. Grafman (Eds.) Handbook of Neuropsychology, Vol. 4, pp. 229–249. The Netherlands: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pell, E., Goldstein R.B., Trempe C.C. and Arend L.E. (1989) Image enhancement improves face recognition. In Noninvasive Assessment of the Visual System, 1989 Technical Digest Series, Vol. 7, pp. 64–67. Washington, D.C.: Optical Society of America.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plude D. and Hoyer W. (1988) Attention and performance: Identifying and localizing age deficits. In N. Charness (Ed.) Aging and Human Performance,pp. 47–99. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porciatti V., Fiorentini A., Morrone M.C., and Burr D. (1991) The effects of ageing on the pattern electroretinogram and visual evoked potential in humans. Investigative Ophthamology & Visual Science (Supplement) 32, 910.

    Google Scholar 

  • Porciatti V., Burr D.C., Fiorentini A., and Morrone C. (this volume) Spatio-temporal properties of the pattern ERG and VEP in the aged. In P. Bagnoli and W. Hodos (Eds.) The Changing Visual System: Maturation and Aging in the Central Nervous System, London: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenblum W.F. and Block M. (1991) Comparisons of the modulation transfer function in intraocular lenses and human crystalline lenses. Unpublished data.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rowe J.W. and Kahn R.L. (1987) Human aging: usual and successful. Science 237, 143–149.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Said F.S. and Weale R.A. (1959) The variation with age of the spectral tranmissivity of the living human crystalline lens. Gerontologia 3, 213–231.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekuler R., Hutman L.P., and Owsley C. (1982) Human aging and spatial vision. Science 209, 1255–1256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sekuler R., Kline D., and Dismukes K. (1980) Aging and Human Visual Function. New York: Liss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinar D. (1977) Driver visual limitations. Diagnosis and treatment (Contract DOT-HS-51275). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Transportation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinar D. and Schieber F. (1991) Visual requirements for safety and mobility of older drivers. Human Factors (to appear in October 1991 issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Skalka H. W. (1980) Effect of age on Arden grating acuity. British Journal of Ophthalmology 64, 21–23.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sloane M.E., Owsley C., and Alvarez S.L. (1988) Aging, senile miosis and spatial contrast sensitivity at low luminance. Vision Research 28, 1235–1246.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sloane M.E., Owsley C., and Jackson C.A. (1988) Aging and luminance-adaptation effects on spatial contrast sensitivity. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 5, 2181–2190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Smith V.C., Pokorny J., and Diddie K.R. (1988) Color matching and the Stiles-Crawford effect in observers with early age-related macular changes. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 5, 2113–2121.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sokol S., Moskowitz A., and Towle V.L. (1981) Age related changes in the latency of the visual evoked potential: influence of check size. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology 51, 559–562.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strehler B.L. (1976) Aging and the human brain. In R.D. Terry and S. Gershon (Eds.) Neurobiology of Aging, pp. 1–22. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturr J.F. and Taub H.A. (unpublished manuscript) Contrast threshold measures in the elderly: Methodological issues.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sturr J.F., Taub H.A., and Hall B.A. (1991) Foveal early dark adaptation in young and older observers in good ocular health. Clinical Vision Sciences 6, 257–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sunness J.S., Rubin G.S., and Massof R.W. (1991) Conventional contrast sensitivity and laser interferometry in eyes with drusen. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 32, 690.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tulunay-Keesey U., Ver Hoeve J.N., and Terkla-McGrane C. (1988) Threshold and suprathreshold spatiotemporal response throughout adulthood. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 5, 2191–2200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Nes F.L. and Bouman M.A. (1967) Spatial modulation transfer in the human eye. Journal of the Optical Society of America 57, 401–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weale R.A. (1963) The Aging Eye. London: HK Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weale R.A. (1975) Senile changes in visual acuity. Transactions of the Ophthalmological Society, U.K. 95, 36–38.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weale R.A. (1982) A Biography of the Eye. London: H.K. Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weale R.A. (1982) Senile ocular changes, cell death, and vision. In R. Sekuler, D. Kline, and K. Dismukes (Eds.) Aging and Human Visual Function, pp. 161–171. New York: Liss.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weale R.A. (this volume) Modern theories of aging and their application to ocular senescence. In P. Bagnoli and W. Hodos (Eds.) The Changing Visual System: Maturation and Aging in the Central Nervous System. London: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner J.S., Peterzell D., and Scheetz, A.J. (1990) Light, vision, and aging. Optometry and Vision Science 67, 214–229.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitaker D. and Elliott D.B. (1991) The effect of simulating optical changes associated with ocular ageing. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (Supplement) 32, 1275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams D.R. (1985) Visibility of interference fringes near the resolution limit. Journal of the Optical Society of America A 2, 1087–1093.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wisniewski H.M. and Terry R.D. (1976) Neuropathology of aging brain. In R.D. Terry and S. Gershon (Eds.) Neurobiology of Aging, pp. 265–280. New York: Raven Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright C.E. and Drasdo N. (1985) The influence of age on the spatial and temporal contrast sensitivity function. Documenta Ophthalmologica 59, 385–395.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright C.E., Williams D.E., Drasdo N., and Harding G.F.A.(1985) The influence of age on the electroretinogram and the visual evoked potential. Documenta Ophthalmologica 59, 365–384.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yuodelis C. and Hendrickson A. (1986) A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the human fovea during development. Vision Research 26, 847–855.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman J.L., Miller D., Dyes W., and Keller M. (1973) Degradation of vision through a simulated cataract. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 12, 213–224.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Ophthalmology and Psychology School of Medicine/Eye Foundation Hospital, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, 35294, USA

    Cynthia Owsley & Kerri B. Burton

Authors
  1. Cynthia Owsley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kerri B. Burton
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

    P. Bagnoli

  2. University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, USA

    W. Hodos

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Owsley, C., Burton, K.B. (1991). Aging and Spatial Contrast Sensitivity: Underlying Mechanisms and Implications for Everyday Life. In: Bagnoli, P., Hodos, W. (eds) The Changing Visual System. NATO ASI Series, vol 222. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3390-0_9

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-3390-0_9

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-6497-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-3390-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation