Central and peripheral normal contrast sensitivity for static and dynamic sinusoidal gratings.

Contrast sensitivity for moving and stationary sine grating patterns was determined in central and peripheral parts of the visual field. The method was primarily developed as a possible screening procedure for visual defects in glaucoma. Contrast sensitivity to moving patterns seemed maximal both in central and in 10 degrees of eccentric viewing for square wave reversals of temporal frequencies 0.5-5 Hz. We selected 2Hz for the clinical procedure. Further, we have determined normal central and peripheral contrast sensitivity in 10 subjects 61-71 years-old, to serve as a basis for the glaucoma studies. We used this age group since glaucoma mainly affects elderly people. We confirmed that contrast sensitivity was higher for dynamic than for static presentation of gratings of low spatial frequencies (below 1 c/d) both centrally and peripherally. For patterns of medium or high spatial frequencies, dynamic and static stimuli were equally detectable. The absolute level of contrast sensitivity was higher centrally than peripherally in the interval 0.3-4 c/d. The lower visual hemifield exhibited greater sensitivity, for both static and dynamic gratings, than the upper one.