High-pass resolution targets in peripheral vision.

Visual acuity was measured at 10 degree intervals on the horizontal meridian in two normal subjects, using high-pass spatial frequency filtered test targets in a computer graphics display. The close similarity between detection and recognition thresholds resulted in quick and reliable measurements. Peripheral acuity was proportional to local retinal ganglion cell separation. High-pass targets appear to be nearly ideal for clinical perimetry because of the easy test task and the possibility of interpreting results in terms of numbers of functional neuroretinal channels. The major limitation appears to be a somewhat fuzzy definition of small, circumscribed defects.