Color and Contrast Sensitivity Threshold Norms Across Age Decades in Normal Subjects

The aim of the present study was to develop a reference database in a healthy population for a test measuring color discrimination thresholds and contrast sensitivity, with the purpose of establishing reference values that contribute to optimizing their use in vision research and clinical assessment. All measurements were performed using four portable electronic display devices (iPads), each of which underwent a specific colorimetric characterization. Experimental measurements were carried out using the Optopad test battery, which includes a test for the assessment of color discrimination thresholds and a test for measuring chromatic and achromatic contrast sensitivity functions. Mean color discrimination and contrast sensitivity threshold values and the reference region defined by the 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles for age decades in the [10, 80] age range were obtained for healthy subjects. These results allow us to define normative intervals with potential diagnostic applications, and information about the mean values of the contrast sensitivity functions for the different age ranges can be used, together with a spatio-chromatic model, to predict age-related changes in visual perception.