Abstract
Purpose. Age-related increases in ocular media density reduce the short-wavelength content of broadband lights. The visual system partially compensates for density increases to maintain color appearance (Kraft and Werner, Vis. Res. Suppl., 1995), but compensation would not be expected to function for color discrimination because small differences are presumably reduced below the noise intrinsic to the visual system. Color discrimination thresholds were measured in observers of widely varying ages to determine how the perception of desaturated lights changes with age. Methods. 21 color-normal observers (11 younger observers - average age: 30 years, and 10 older observers - average age: 74 years) participated in a two-alternative-forced-choice procedure using a 2-down/1-up staircase (run for 8 reversals, the final six reversals were averaged to determine threshold). In each trial, two 1.5-second flashes of light (1.2° visual angle) were presented in Maxwellian view with 3 second interstimulus intervals. One of the flashes was a broadband light (x=0.33, y=0.35). The other flash was a mixture of broadband and monochromatic light (8 wavelengths, 420-680 nm). The observer's task was to choose which of the flashes had a chromatic component. Total sensation luminance of the flashes was 250 Trolands. Results. At 420 nm, a wavelength strongly affected by the ocular media, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were 0.84 log units higher than thresholds for younger observers. From 460-680 nm, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were an average of 0.25 log units (range: 0.14 to 0.36 log units) higher than those for younger observers. Conclusions. Although the visual system partially compensates for increasing ocular media density to maintain the color appearance of broadband lights across the life span, color discrimination becomes progressively worse with increasing age.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| State | Published - Feb 15 1996 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ophthalmology
Cite this
Age-related changes in color discrimination near the achromatic point. / Kraft, J. M.; Werner, John S.
In: Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Vol. 37, No. 3, 15.02.1996.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Age-related changes in color discrimination near the achromatic point
AU - Kraft, J. M.
AU - Werner, John S
PY - 1996/2/15
Y1 - 1996/2/15
N2 - Purpose. Age-related increases in ocular media density reduce the short-wavelength content of broadband lights. The visual system partially compensates for density increases to maintain color appearance (Kraft and Werner, Vis. Res. Suppl., 1995), but compensation would not be expected to function for color discrimination because small differences are presumably reduced below the noise intrinsic to the visual system. Color discrimination thresholds were measured in observers of widely varying ages to determine how the perception of desaturated lights changes with age. Methods. 21 color-normal observers (11 younger observers - average age: 30 years, and 10 older observers - average age: 74 years) participated in a two-alternative-forced-choice procedure using a 2-down/1-up staircase (run for 8 reversals, the final six reversals were averaged to determine threshold). In each trial, two 1.5-second flashes of light (1.2° visual angle) were presented in Maxwellian view with 3 second interstimulus intervals. One of the flashes was a broadband light (x=0.33, y=0.35). The other flash was a mixture of broadband and monochromatic light (8 wavelengths, 420-680 nm). The observer's task was to choose which of the flashes had a chromatic component. Total sensation luminance of the flashes was 250 Trolands. Results. At 420 nm, a wavelength strongly affected by the ocular media, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were 0.84 log units higher than thresholds for younger observers. From 460-680 nm, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were an average of 0.25 log units (range: 0.14 to 0.36 log units) higher than those for younger observers. Conclusions. Although the visual system partially compensates for increasing ocular media density to maintain the color appearance of broadband lights across the life span, color discrimination becomes progressively worse with increasing age.
AB - Purpose. Age-related increases in ocular media density reduce the short-wavelength content of broadband lights. The visual system partially compensates for density increases to maintain color appearance (Kraft and Werner, Vis. Res. Suppl., 1995), but compensation would not be expected to function for color discrimination because small differences are presumably reduced below the noise intrinsic to the visual system. Color discrimination thresholds were measured in observers of widely varying ages to determine how the perception of desaturated lights changes with age. Methods. 21 color-normal observers (11 younger observers - average age: 30 years, and 10 older observers - average age: 74 years) participated in a two-alternative-forced-choice procedure using a 2-down/1-up staircase (run for 8 reversals, the final six reversals were averaged to determine threshold). In each trial, two 1.5-second flashes of light (1.2° visual angle) were presented in Maxwellian view with 3 second interstimulus intervals. One of the flashes was a broadband light (x=0.33, y=0.35). The other flash was a mixture of broadband and monochromatic light (8 wavelengths, 420-680 nm). The observer's task was to choose which of the flashes had a chromatic component. Total sensation luminance of the flashes was 250 Trolands. Results. At 420 nm, a wavelength strongly affected by the ocular media, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were 0.84 log units higher than thresholds for younger observers. From 460-680 nm, colorimetric purity thresholds for older observers were an average of 0.25 log units (range: 0.14 to 0.36 log units) higher than those for younger observers. Conclusions. Although the visual system partially compensates for increasing ocular media density to maintain the color appearance of broadband lights across the life span, color discrimination becomes progressively worse with increasing age.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750182773&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33750182773&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:33750182773
VL - 37
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
SN - 0146-0404
IS - 3
ER -