Reference intervals for visual acuity and contrast sensitivity of a school population in Pereira, Colombia

Abstract

<em><strong>Introduction</strong><em> The tests that assess visual acuity (VA) and the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) allow to quantify and evaluate vision quality. In Colombia, reference intervals for these two visual tests have been established based on parameters mainly found in foreign populations. <em><strong>Objectives</strong><em> To determine reference intervals for VA and CSF in a healthy school population aged 5 to 19 years in Pereira, Colombia. <em><strong>Materials and methods</strong><em> In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 626 subjects aged 5 to 19 years were evaluated in a random two-stage cluster sample. VA was evaluated using logMAR charts, and CSF was assessed using CSV 1000E. <em><strong>Results</strong><em> The study found that in a normal subject aged 5 to 19 years VA oscillates between −0.20 and 0.10 logMAR, with a median of 0.0. VA is higher between 15 and 19 years of age in addition, men have higher VA. The normal intervals for CSF, using CSV 1000E at spatial frequencies of 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd, are: 1.49 logSC and 2.08 logSC 1.70 logs and 2.29 logs 1.40 logSC and 1.99 logSC and 0.96 logSC and 1.55 logSC, respectively. <em><strong>Conclusions</strong><em> VA in school children aged 5 to 19 years is similar to the values reported in the literature, while CSF is lower at low spatial frequencies.