Contrast sensitivity: characteristics of a large, young, adult population.

Contrast sensitivity functions and complete eye examinations were obtained from 103 normal, healthy young adults (ages 21 to 40 years). Descriptive statistics were compiled for the group in order to provide normative information. Subsets of the population were evaluated with respect to the relations among the attributes of accommodation, visual acuity, refraction, spectacle wear, and contrast sensitivity. The influence of age in this restricted population was seen only at 16 cpd. In those subjects with better than 6/6 (20/20) Snellen acuity, there were statistically significant relations with the parameters of the contrast sensitivity function as compared to those observers with 6/6 (20/20) or poorer acuity. High spatial frequency resolution was significantly better for those observers with better than 6/6 (20/20) acuity in either eye. In addition, this study provides a broad base of normative data for variability from a large population confined to a specific age range and with refractive errors that ranged from minimal to more than average.