Effect of Experimentally Induced Astigmatism on Functional, Conventional, and Low-Contrast Visual Acuity

Abstract

To report the changes in functional visual acuity (FVA) in eyes with experimentally induced astigmatism. This study included 26 right eyes from 26 healthy participants (mean age: 27.0±4.4 years). After confirming best correction under cycloplegia, the cylinder power ×90° and ×180° (against-the-rule [ATR] and with-the-rule [WTR] astigmatism, respectively) were added with 0.50-diopter (D) steps, from 0.50 to 2.50 D. Conventional visual acuity (VA), FVA as measured by the FVA Measurement System (NIDEK Co Ltd), and 10% low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA) were measured with 3-mm artificial pupil under each condition. The mean corrected logMAR VA, FVA, LCVA were -0.18±0.00 (20/13), -0.10±0.08 (20/16), and 0.06±0.06 (20/23), respectively. The VA, FVA, and LCVA had a significant linear negative correlation with the addition of cylinder irrespective of the axes. A significant decrease in FVA was noted on addition of ⩾0.50 D WTR astigmatism and ⩾1.00 D ATR astigmatism. With the addition of 1.00 D of cylindrical lens, 96% of eyes with WTR and ATR astigmatism could maintain 20/20 in VA testing, whereas only 50% and 62% of eyes with WTR and ATR astigmatism, respectively, could maintain 20/20 in FVA testing. Astigmatism may be associated with deterioration of visual function even when conventional VA of 20/20 is attained. Functional VA testing seems to be useful in evaluating the masked astigmatic visual impairment that cannot be detected by conventional VA testing.