Abstract
The aim of this study was to analyze the contrast sensitivity of spatial luminance and the color discrimination thresholds of the protan, deutan, and tritan axes of people with leprosy. This study included 8 subjects with leprosy (M = 4, W = 4, M = 33.38 ± 8.7) and 8 healthy subjects (M = 4, W = 4, M = 30.89 ± 5.8). The contrast sensitivity was evaluated by the Metropsis software version 11.0 with vertical sinusoidal grids of frequencies of 0.2, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 16 cycles per degree of visual angle (cpd) and color vision by the desaturated Lanthony D15 tests and the trivector and ellipse protocols of the Cambridge Color Test. The results showed significant differences between the groups in the processing of spatial frequencies of 0.2 (U = 14; p = .018); 5.0 (U = 45.0; p = .001); 10.0 (U = 45.0; p = .001), and 16.0 (U = 45.0; p = .001) cpd. The difference in color recognition through D15d (U = 4.0; p = .002). Ellipse 2 (U = 10.0; p = .012) and ellipse 3 (U = 9.0; p = .009) were discriminated against. Overall, the results indicate that leprosy changes the visual processing of low, medium, and high spatial frequencies, as well as the sensitivity of the short wavelength (tritan line of confusion) and long (protan line of confusion) cones.
Highlights
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and can be considered a neurological disease (Brasil, 2018)
The results indicate that leprosy changes the visual processing of low, medium, and high spatial frequencies, as well as the sensitivity of the short wavelength and long cones
Regarding the paucibacillary and multibacillary clinical forms of leprosy, the MannWhitney U test has not found a significant difference in relation to treatment time (p = .051), age of participants (p = .297), and schooling (p = .207)
Summary
Leprosy is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and can be considered a neurological disease (Brasil, 2018). According to Brasil (2008), the nasolacrimal canal would be the access route of the bacillus into contact with structures of the visual system. Based on this assumption, some studies have investigated the prevalence of ocular lesions in people with leprosy and have identified decreased visual acuity (Malik et al, 2011), glaucoma (Souza et al, 2005), cataract (Shrestha et al, 2018; Whitcher et al, 2001), opacity of the cornea (Courtright and Daniel, 2002, Thompson et al, 2006), and blindness (Eballe et al, 2009; Chukka et al, 2011)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
