Abstract
Myopes exhibit a larger capability of adaptation to defocus. Adaptation produces a boost in visual performance that can be characterized through different metrics. The ability of myopes to adapt to other sources of blur, such as diffusion, has not been studied so far. In this work, a group of 20 myopes with normal vision underwent high-contrast visual acuity (VA) measurements under different viewing conditions, wearing their refractive correction with or without a diffuser (Bangerter filter, BF). VA decreased immediately after wearing the BF of density 0.6, showing a significant relationship with the ocular refraction. After 40 minutes of binocular vision through the BF, a statistically significant increase (p = 0.02) in VA from 0.54 to 0.62 in decimal scale (from 0.3 to 0.2 logMAR) was obtained. No correlation with the refraction was observed. After removing the diffuser, VA returned to baseline. A control group (17 subjects) underwent the same experimental protocol but without diffuser filters. No significant changes in VA were found in this group. We describe a new type of contrast adaptation to blur in myopes caused by scattering, rather than by defocus. The effects of low scattering levels in vision might be relevant in the analysis of early stage of cataract, amblyopia treatments, and myopia understanding.
Highlights
The imperfect optics of the eye imposes the first limit to visual performance
We found that the reduction in visual acuity (VA) after application of
Bangerter filters (BFs) (i.e. VA1–VA2) in a myopic population exhibited a correlation with the refraction
Summary
The imperfect optics of the eye imposes the first limit to visual performance. Despite this circumstance, the eye is a robust system, able to operate under a variety of situations [1]. The main factors degrading retinal images are refractive errors, high order ocular aberrations, and scattering [2,3,4]. Beyond these optical limitations, it is accepted that the human visual system is capable of changing the characteristics of its response based on both recent visual experience and environmental conditions [5]. Adaptation can be understood as a mechanism to prevent saturation and keep detection in the range of best sensitivity
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