How does the short-wavelength-sensitive contrast sensitivity function for detection and resolution change with age in the periphery?

Abstract

To determine the age-related change in the peripheral short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) grating contrast sensitivity function (CSF), cut-off spatial frequency (acuity) and contrast sensitivity for both a detection and resolution task were measured at 8° eccentricity under conditions of SWS-cone isolation for 51 subjects (19–72 years). The acuity for both the detection and resolution task declined with age, the detection acuity being significantly higher than the resolution acuity at all ages ( p < .01). The CSF for both detection and resolution shifted towards lower spatial frequencies with increasing age. The contrast sensitivity for detection remained higher than that for resolution for all ages at the highest spatial frequencies. The age-related loss in the SWS resolution CSF at high spatial frequency probably reflects a loss occurring at the ganglion cells level.