Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue Test Research Articles

Investigating the effects of simulated high altitude on colour discrimination

PurposeTo quantify changes in colour vision immediately after exposure to different altitudes of low-pressure hypoxia.MethodsThe study involved 35 healthy participants (ages 20–26). Colour vision was assessed using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue...

Visuospatial dysfunction predicts dementia-first phenoconversion in isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder

ObjectiveWhile isolated rapid eye movement sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) is known as a prodrome of α-synucleinopathies, the prediction for its future phenoconversion to parkinsonism-first or dementia-first subtype remains a challenge....

Analyzing the effect of blue-blocking lenses on color vision tests using the chromaticity coordinate method

SignificanceBlue light with wavelengths of 380–445 nm can harm the retina, leading to the development of blue-blocking lenses (BBLs). Understanding whether BBLs affect color vision test outcomes and color discrimination ability is crucial for people in color-associated jobs. AimThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of BBLs on color vision tests and analyze color discrimination using mathematical models of color spaces. ApproachSix pseudoisochromatic (PIC) tests and two Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) tests were conducted to assess participants’ color vision. Friedman signed rank test was used to compare the outcomes of the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Tests (FM 100-Hue Tests) between the BBLs and ordinary lenses groups. The CIE color difference formula and a spectral illuminometer were employed to evaluate the color differences with and without BBLs. ResultsAll subjects showed normal outcomes in all PIC tests and Farnsworth-Munsell Dichotomous D-15 Tests (FM D-15 Tests). There were no significant differences between ordinary lenses group and BBLs groups in FM 100-Hue Tests. In the color space, the effect of BBLs on each color light was equivalent to a translation on the CIE 1931 chromaticity diagram with minor distortion. Since BBLs do not disrupt the continuity of the chromaticity diagram, or cause different colors to appear the same, they do not lead to color confusion. However, colors with short wavelengths exhibited more changes in color difference when wearing BBLs. ConclusionsBBLs do not impair the wearer's ability to discriminate colors or perform color vision tests accurately. However, BBLs can cause color differences especially in the recognition of blue hues.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Enchroma Filters for Correcting Color Vision Impairment

Objective: This study examined the effectiveness of Enchroma Cx-14 filters on individuals with Red-Green color vision deficiency (CVD). Methods: ColorDx and the Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) 100-Hue test were used to assess subjective reactions to Enchroma. The ColorDx and FM, 100 Hue test error scores were computed and contrasted using Placebo (untinted glasses) and Enchroma CX-14, red, and green filters. Results: The findings demonstrated that while enchroma filters improved the mistake score in only two patients, they had no discernible impact on any CVD subject's performance. In one protan participant and all deutan individuals, colour discrimination was greatly enhanced by the red filter. Green filters and Enchroma did not raise mean error scores. Conclusion: Enchroma filters had limited effectiveness in improving color perception for individuals with Red-Green CVD.

Validation of a New Digital and Automated Color Perception Test.

Although color vision deficiencies are very prevalent, there are no ideal methods for assessing color vision in all environments. We compared a new digital and automated method that quantifies color perception for the three protan, deutan, and tritan axes with two of the most commonly used color tests in daily practice: the Ishihara 38 plates test and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test. One hundred patients underwent a triple examination composed of the new DIVE Color Test, the Ishihara test, and the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue test. The DIVE Color Test was performed twice in forty participants to assess its repeatability. In the trichromatic group, the mean age stood at 20.57 ± 9.22 years compared with 25.99 ± 15.86 years in the dyschromatic group. The DIVE and Ishihara tests exhibited excellent agreement in identifying participants with color deficiency (Cohen's kappa = 1.00), while it was 0.81 when comparing DIVE and Farnsworth. The correlation between the global perception values of Farnsworth (TES) and DIVE (GCS) was 0.80. The repeatability of the DIVE Color Test was high according to Bland-Altman analysis with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.83. According to Ishihara, the DIVE Color Test proved to be an effective and reproducible tool for red-green color vision deficiency detection, capable of determining the severity of the defect in each of the three axes faster and more accurately than both Ishihara and Farnsworth.

A Preliminary Survey of Color Discrimination Among Indonesia Female Subjects Using Farnsworth-Munsell Hue Color Test

This study aimed to conduct a preliminary survey of the color discrimination test among Indonesian samples. The study involved 26 participants of university students and office workers. To test the ability of color discrimination, the Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) 100 Hue Color Vision Test was used. Farnsworth-Munsell test scoring software was also used to obtain the total score of each participant. Using the FM 100-hue test, the participants were classified into superior, average and low color discrimination ability. The results showed that that 19.2% female participants were classified as superior for color discrimination ability. Majority of participants were classified as average. Meanwhile for low classification, only 3.9% were classified as low color discrimination ability. Currently, many companies and industries have great need for workers with good characterized and accurate color vision. However, the study of color discrimination is still limited and unknown in Indonesia. Through this study, hopefully attention for a broader study with a larger scale could be obtained.

Investigation of the color discrimination ability using the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test and structural changes by SS-OCT in patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia

AimThis study aimed to examine the color discrimination ability of patients with transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia (TDβ-T) in detail using the Farnsworth Munsell (FM) 100-hue test and to evaluate structural changes by swept source-optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). Material and methodsThis prospective, sectional study included 40 patients (79 eyes) with TDβ-T and 21 controls (42 eyes). The volunteers underwent a detailed ophthalmological examination and SS-OCT (DRI-OCT, Triton) imaging. Excluded were those with congenital color vision defects detected with the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic test. The patients’ color vision was examined using the FM 100-hue test. The total error score (TES), the blue-yellow local error score (b-y LES), and the red-green local error score (r-g LES) were calculated. p <0.05 was considered significant. ResultsThe mean age was 30.34±6.94 years in the patient group and 32.26±6.43 years in the control group (p = 0.078). The patient group had a significantly lower hemoglobin level (9.25±0.87 g/dL vs. 14±1.79 g/dL, p <0.001) and a significantly higher ferritin level (2665.56±2658.05 μg/L vs. 52.87±69.59 μg/L, p<0.001) compared to the control group. The mean TES, b-y LES, and r-g LES were higher in the patients than in the controls (64.84±30.18 vs. 28.45±16.55, p<0.001, 34.21±17.54 vs. 15.67±10.07, p <0.001, and 29.32±15.72 vs. 12.12±7.94, p<0.001, respectively). The patients had a higher b-y LES than r-g LES (34.21±17.54 vs. 29.32±15.72, p = 0.015). Choroidal thickness was lower in the patients than in the controls (284.34±63.55 µm vs. 324.98±88.05 µm, p = 0.043). ConclusionWe found that the color discrimination ability of the patients with TDβ-T was reduced in both the r-g and b-y color axes compared to the controls, and their color discrimination ability in the b-y color axis was more affected than in the r-g axis.

Interrelationships Between Visual and Instrumental Measures of Ground Beef Color

Two experiments were conducted to understand the interrelationship among visual color score, Farnsworth-Munsell values, instrumental meat color measurements, and their impact on beef color evaluation. In experiment 1, L*, a*, and b* values and various reflectance traits of the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test tiles were measured.Incremental changes of the tiles were used to predict changes in a* values and other color variables that can be seen by a trained visual panel. Regression analysis suggests that trained panelists that pass the Farnsworth-Munsell Hue Test can discriminate a change of 0.95 in a*, 0.9 in b*, and 2.54 in hue angle values when Illuminant A is used. In experiment 2, ground beef was assigned randomly to one of 36 combinations of 3 storage temperatures, 4 storage times, and 3 display temperatures to create a variety of surface colors. A 10% change in ground beef metmyoglobin content corresponded to 3.2 units of a* (R2=0.95). Of all the instrumental measurements, a* (r=−0.97) and chroma (r=−0.97) best represented the red color intensity that panelists saw on the surface of ground beef. Significant surface discoloration occurred at 37.1% metmyoglobin and an a* value of 25.4 (with Illuminant A). Using a 5-point visual lean color scale,the change required in a* value for a unit change visual color score was 4.6. In conclusion, a* and chroma are highly related to visual color scores and changes in metmyoglobin, and a change in a* of 0.95 can be observed by visual panelists that have passed the Farnsworth-Munsell test.

A Computer-Based Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue (CFM-100) Test in Pilots' Medical Assessments.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effectiveness and identified the cutoff values of the computer-based Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue (CFM-100) test for screening color vision deficiencies in the pre-employment examination of civil aviators in China.METHODS: Firstly, subjects were stratified into normal, color weakness, and color blindness with the Ishihara pseudoisochromatic plate test (IPPT) by two ophthalmologists. Then they randomly completed CFM-100 and Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue (FM-100) tests. Total error scores (TES) and the time taken for the CFM-100 and FM-100 were analyzed and the cutoff values for the CFM-100 were determined.RESULTS: Of 218 subjects, 159 were normal while 59 were diagnosed with dyschromatopsia. The TES of the CFM-100 were congruent with those of the FM-100 (20.0 ± 18.8 vs. 20.6 ± 17.7, 160.9 ± 66.0 vs. 151.1 ± 66.4). The testing time for the CFM-100, however, was less than the FM-100 (10.3 ± 2.8 min vs. 12.9 ± 2.9 min, 7.8 ± 2.5 min vs. 12.6 ± 3.3 min). The correlation coefficient R was 0.93 and Cohen's kappa was 0.89 for the two methods. Further analyses defined 34 as the cutoff value to differentiate excellent from fair color discrimination (sensitivity 58.0%, specificity 94.7%) and 101 as the cutoff value to judge fair vs. poor (sensitivity and specificity both 98.8%) for the CFM-100. The cut-off value was 72 for distinguishing normal from defective color vision (sensitivity 96.6%, specificity 98.7%) and 110 was for distinguishing color weakness from color blindness (sensitivity 97.6%, specificity 97.7%) for the CFM-100.CONCLUSIONS: The CFM-100 is an effective method for the diagnosis of dyschromatopsia with high sensitivity in screening airline pilots.Zhang Y, Ma J, Cheng S, Hu W. A computer-based Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue (CFM-100) test in pilots' medical assessments. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2022; 93(4):362-367.

Prevalence and types of color vision deficiency among primary school students in Alexandria

Purpose The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of color vision deficiency (CVD) among primary school students in Alexandria, Egypt. Setting This study was carried out at three primary schools in Alexandria, Egypt. Patients and methods This cross-sectional study was carried out among three primary school students in Alexandria, Egypt. Ocular examination including visual acuity and color vision testing with Ishihara plates (38-plate edition) was performed for all the students included. Further assessment using the Farnsworth–Munsell 100-hue test was performed for students who failed the Ishihara plates test. Results A total of 1000 (495 males and 505 females) school students were screened for CVD. The mean age of the students was 9±2.16 years. The overall prevalence of CVD was 1.9%, with a prevalence of 2.8 and 0.9% in males and females, respectively, a statistically significant difference (P=0.04). Among the CVD students, 36.8% had deuteranopia, 31.5% had deuteranomaly, 26.3% had protanopia, and 5.3% had tritanopia. Conclusion The prevalence of CVD was 1.9%, with a male predominance, among primary school students in Alexandria. Deutan color vision defects were the most prevalent.

Quantitative and objective diagnosis of color vision deficiencies based on steady-state visual evoked potentials.

Traditional color vision tests depend on subjective judgments and are not suitable for infant children and subjects with cognitive dysfunction. We aimed to explore an objective and quantitative color vision testing method based on sweep steady-state visual evoked potentials (sweep SSVEPs) and compare the results with subjective Farnsworth-Munsell (FM) 100-hue test results. A red-green SSVEP pattern reversal checkboard paradigm at different luminance ratios was used to induce visual evoked potentials (VEPs) from 15 color vision deficiencies (CVDs) and 11 normal color vision subjects. After electroencephalography signals were processed by canonical correlation analysis, an equiluminance turning curve corresponding to the activation of the L-cones and M-cones at different levels of color vision was established. Then, we obtained different equiluminance T and proposed the SSVEP color vision severity index (ICVD) to quantify color vision function and the severity of CVDs. In addition, the FM 100-hue test was used to obtain subjective data for the diagnosis of color vision. The value of ICVD can be an indicator of the level of color vision. Both the total error scores (TES) and confusion index (C-index) of the FM 100-hue test were significantly correlated with ICVD values (P < 0.001, respectively). ICVD also had a good classification effect in detecting normals, anomalous trichromats and dichromats. Moreover, equiluminance T had a good effect on classifying protans and deutans in subjects with CVDs. Color vision evaluation with sweep SSVEPs showed a good correlation with subjective psychophysical methods. SSVEPs can be an objective and quantitative method to test color vision and diagnose CVDs.

Blue-yellow deficiencies in young moderate smokers

PurposeTo evaluate whether tobacco affects color vision in young moderate smokers. MethodsChromatic mechanisms of 13 moderate smokers (10–20 cigarettes/day and at least 5 years smoking) and 17 non-smokers in the 18–35 age range were assessed with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue (FM100h) test and short wavelength automated perimetry (SWAP). ResultsFM100h Total Error Scores (TES) were higher for smokers, and although differences were not significant (p = 0.14), a linear model with principal component analysis was able to explain 95% of the variance in TES and red-green partial error scores, though not in blue-yellow partial error scores (p = 0.07), using the number of years as smokers and the number of cigarettes/day as predictors. SWAP sensitivity values were globally worse (p = 0.002) for smokers (25.7 + 6.2 dB) than for non-smokers (26.7 + 6.2 dB). In the upper visual hemifield sensitivity, total deviation and pattern deviation values were worse for smokers (p < 0.001). Differences in mean defect and pattern standard deviation were not significant (p > 0.05 in both cases). The number of out-of-limits points in the total difference and pattern difference map were significantly larger for smokers. After correcting for multiple comparisons, only the differences in the upper visual hemifield were significant. ConclusionsThis pilot study suggests that even young moderate smokers show small sensitivity loss in the blue-yellow mechanism, it is statistically significant, restricted to the upper visual hemifield. This corresponds to a retinal region where literature reports a lower density of retinal ganglion cells and where, therefore, the chromatic mechanisms would be more fragile.

Cone mosaic characteristics in red-green colour deficiency: a comparative study

ObjectiveTo compare photoreceptor cone characteristics using adaptive optics (AO) technology between congenital colour blind patients and healthy age-matched controls. DesignCross-sectional. Participants21 eyes (21 cases) with congenital red-green colour blindness and 21 eyes of age-matched controls (21 controls), all having a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 and normal ophthalmological examination, were recruited. MethodsColour vision testing was done using the Farnsworth–Munsell 100-Hue test and Nagel anomaloscope. Imaging of fovea was done using rtx1 AO retinal camera with a sampling window size of 4° × 4°. Peak cone density, intercone spacing, cone regularity, and cone dispersion were determined using AOdetect Mosaic software. ResultsOverall, mean cone characteristics at 2° off fixation in cases and controls, respectively, were density 26 587 ± 1328/26 448 ± 687 cells/mm2 (p = 0.67), spacing 6.69 ± 0.17/6.75 ± 0.11 μm (p = 0.19), regularity 94.36 ± 2.56/94.83 ± 1.28% (p = 0.46), dispersion 10.22 ± 1.21/11.68 ± 0.79% (p = 0.0001), and hexagonality 50.62 ± 4.21/49.52 ± 2.45% (p = 0.31). No significant difference was noted in various cone metrics except dispersion, which was markedly decreased in colour-deficient individuals. At 4° off fixation, the cone characteristics were not significantly different between cases and controls: density 16 521 ± 1230/16 930 ± 678 cells/mm2 (p = 0.37), spacing 8.60 ± 0.29/8.46 ± 0.17 μm (p = 0.19), regularity 92.68 ± 2.83/92.6 ± 3.05% (p = 0.95), dispersion 13.43 ± 3.48/13.65 ± 2.38% (p = 0.87), and hexagonality 45.22 ± 3.8/45.21 ± 5.5% (p = 0.99). A significant reduction in cone density, regularity, and hexagonality was associated with corresponding increase in spacing and dispersion as we moved from 2° to 4° off fixation in both cases and controls. ConclusionCone photoreceptor characteristics are anatomically well preserved in young colour-deficient individuals except cone dispersion.

A common type of commercially available LED light source allows for colour discrimination performance at a level comparable to halogen lighting

As light sources based on light emitting diodes (LED) are increasingly used to replace classic tungsten-based light sources in household lighting applications, possible impairments of colour perception under those light sources due to a different spectral power distribution become a major concern. The Colour Rendering Index (CRI) which is the only measure available to the end user is controversial and does not represent a comprehensive measure of colour perception. Aspects of colour perception disregarded by the CRI such as colour discrimination have to be taken into account as well. Therefore, we evaluated colour discrimination performance under a commercially available phosphor-converted LED light source from a popular brand (OSRAM) in comparison to a classic tungsten-based halogen light source. Colour discrimination performance was not affected by the type of light source, indicating that the phosphor-converted LED light source enables colour discrimination performance comparable to that of halogen lighting despite being associated with a lower CRI. Practitioner summary: Considering the increasing use of energy efficient light sources, we compared colour discrimination under a common type of phosphor-converted LED and under traditional halogen lighting. Colour discrimination performance was comparable in both lighting conditions, indicating that the phosphor-converted LED can replace halogen lighting without sacrificing colour discrimination for energy efficiency. Abbreviations: LED: light emitting diode; CRI: colour rendering index; CCT: correlated colour temperature; CIE: commission internationale de l’éclairage; FMHT: Farnsworth-Munsell 100-Hue Test; lm: lumen; lx: lux, lumen/m^2; W: watt; nm: nanometer; K: kelvin

Investigation of relationship between colour discrimination ability and stereoscopic acuity using Farnsworth Munsell 100 hue test and stereo tests

ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of colour discrimination ability on the stereoscopic acuity by comparing individuals having congenital colour vision deficiency (CCVD) with healthy individuals. DesignA comparative study. ParticipantsThe study included 53 binocular males, of whom 26 (mean age, 36.04 ± 9.30 years) were in the healthy group and 27 (mean age, 33.04 ± 9.81 years) were in the CCVD group. MethodsThe following tests were used: the Ishihara pseudo-isochromatic plate test for detecting CCVD, the Farnsworth Munsell 100 (FM100) hue test for colour discrimination ability, the TNO and Titmus stereo tests for stereoscopic acuity. ResultsIn the CCVD group, 20 males were deutan and 7 males were protan. According to the FM100 hue test, total error score (TES), blue/yellow (b/y) local error score (LES), and red/green LES were significantly lower in the healthy group (30.23 ± 18.78, 15.15 ± 10.38, and 13.88 ± 11.93, respectively) than in the CCVD group (133.59 ± 67.45, 41.15 ± 22.03, and 89.15 ± 52.16, respectively) (p < 0.01 for each). The stereo test scores revealed significantly higher stereoscopic acuity in the healthy group (43.85 ± 33.92 arcsec for the TNO test and 40.00 ± 0.00 arcsec for the Titmus test) than in the CCVD group (93.33 ± 90.51 arcsec for TNO stereo test and 52.96 ± 24.62 arcsec for the Titmus test) (p < 0.05 for each). The TNO test score was significantly and positively correlated with the TES (r = 0.390, p = 0.049) and b/y LES (r = 0.490, p = 0.011) in the healthy group. ConclusionsColour discrimination ability affected stereoscopic acuity. Moreover, stereoscopic acuity increased with increasing colour discrimination ability, which could be originated from the b/y colour region.

The effects of yellow filter on daily visual function.

Although blue-blocker lenses are commonly prescribed to low vision patients, there is no consensus on whether they provide reliable improvements in patients’ daily visual function. Here we evaluate the effects of a yellow filter (515nm long-pass glass filter) in normally-sighted young adults. Twelve observers performed a battery of visual tasks using their left eye with and without the filter. As expected, color discrimination (Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue color vision test) was much worse in the with-filter condition (average total error score: 38 vs. 235), p<0.001. The with and without-filter conditions did not differ on the measurements of visual acuities (Bailey-Lovie for distance; ETDRS 2000 for near), contrast sensitivities (Mars and qCSF tests), and reading speeds (MNREAD at fovea; qReading-RSVP test at 10° in the lower field (n=9)). We also measured pupil sizes for nine of the observers when they were viewing an array of full-screen solid colors on a LCD (42cd/m2 for colored stimuli and 270cd/m2 for white), twelve illuminated Munsell color sheets, and twelve computer-displayed natural scene images with pre-selected fixation locations to control for eye movements. Pupil size was on average larger for the with-filter condition in all three viewing tasks. The same results held when we equated luminance between with and without-filter conditions for the solid colors on LCD. Our results demonstrated that a yellow filter can have significant impacts on color vision and pupil size but not on visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and reading speed. The enlargement of pupil size in the with-filter condition may explain previous subjective reports of brightness enhancement with blue-blocker lenses.

Colour vision in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy.

To determine the integrity of colour perception, related to photic sensitivity, in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Twenty-four patients with photoparoxysmal response, 27 patients without photoparoxysmal response, and 32 healthy individuals were investigated using the Farnsworth Munsell-100 Hue test to calculate error scores for total colour, blue/yellow, and red/green. No significant differences were observed regarding blue/yellow, red/green or total error score between juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients with or without photoparoxysmal response. However, the data for all three scores were significantly higher in both patient groups compared to the healthy control group. In both patient groups, the blue/yellow error score was significantly higher than the red/green error score. We were unable to identify a relationship between photoparoxysmal response and colour vision in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. We believe that the underlying reason why juvenile myoclonic epilepsy patients had significantly higher blue/yellow, red/green, and total error score compared to the healthy control group may be due to GABA dysfunction, which is considered to play a role in the pathophysiology of this disease as well as the physiology of colour vision.

The impact of age-related cataracts on colour perception, postoperative recovery and related spectra derived from test of hue perception

BackgroundCataract patients were always excluded from studies on ageing of colour vision; thus, effect of age-related cataracts on deterioration of colour perception has not been analysed. In present study, impacts of age-related cataracts on colour discrimination, postoperative recovery and related spectra were investigated.MethodsIn this cohort study, thirty age-related cataract patients scheduled for binocular surgery and 30 elderly volunteers were enrolled. Colour discrimination under photopic (1000 lx) and mesopic (40 lx) conditions was evaluated with Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test. The total error score (TES) and partial error score (PES) were calculated.ResultsPreoperatively, the TES in the patient group was 129.7 ± 59.5 at 1000 lx and 194.6 ± 74.5 at 40 lx, exhibiting worse discrimination than the volunteer group (TES1000lux = 71.5 ± 37.5 and TES40lux = 113.1 ± 38.8, p ≤ 0.001). Inferior perception were detected in the yellow to green-yellow (Y-GY), green-yellow to green (GY-G), green to blue-green (G-BG) and blue-green to blue (BG-B) colour bands (p ≤ 0.003), corresponding to the 470 nm–580 nm range of the visible light spectrum. Under mesopic conditions, the impact expanded to all colour bands except for yellow-red to yellow (YR-Y). Postoperatively, the TES in the patient group were 80.4 ± 62.4 at 1000 lx and 112.0 ± 85.2 at 40 lx, which were lower than those of the preoperative phase (p ≤ 0.001) but similar to those of the volunteer group (p ≥ 0.505). Postoperative improvement occurred in the Y-GY, GY-G and G-BG colour bands (490 nm to 580 nm) at 1000 lx (p ≤ 0.001) and shifted to the Y-GY, GY-G, G-BG and BG-B colour bands (470 nm to 580 nm) at 40 lx (p ≤ 0.001). Deterioration of hue perception for decrement of illumination was detected in the red to yellow-red (R-YR), Y-GY, G-BG, BG-B, blue to purple-blue (B-PB) and red-purple to red (RP-R) colour bands (450 nm to 500 nm) in the volunteer group (p ≤ 0.002) and the R-YR, G-BG, BG-B, B-PB, PB-P and red-purple to red (RP-R) colour bands (from the short-wavelength end to 500 nm) in the patient group preoperatively (p ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsPhacoemulsification could effectively rebuild colour perception in patients with age-related cataract. The postoperative benefits were most significant in colour bands corresponding with spectrum from 470 nm to 580 nm.

Links between global and local shape perception, coloured backgrounds, colour discrimination, and non-verbal IQ

This study explored associations between local and global shape perception on coloured backgrounds, colour discrimination, and non-verbal IQ (NVIQ). Five background colours were chosen for the local and global shape tasks that were tailored for the cone-opponent pathways early in the visual system (cardinal colour directions: L-M, loosely, reddish-greenish; and S-(L + M), or tritan colours, loosely, blueish-yellowish; where L, M and S refer to the long, middle and short wavelength sensitive cones). Participants also completed the Farnsworth-Munsell 100-hue test (FM100) to determine whether performance on the local and global shape tasks correlated with colour discrimination overall, or with performance on the L-M and tritan subsets of the FM100 test. Overall performance on the local and global shape tasks did correlate with scores on the FM100 tests, despite the colour of the background being irrelevant to the shape tasks. There were also significantly larger associations between scores for the L-M subset of the FM100 test, compared to the tritan subset, and accuracy on some of the shape tasks on the reddish, greenish and neutral backgrounds. Participants also completed the non-verbal components of the WAIS and the SPM+ version of Raven’s progressive matrices, to determine whether performance on the FM100 test, and on the local and global shape tasks, correlated with NVIQ. FM100 scores correlated significantly with both WAIS and SPM+ scores. These results extend previous work that has indicated FM100 performance is not purely a measure of colour discrimination, but also involves aspects of each participant’s NVIQ, such as the ability to attend to local and global aspects of the test, part-whole relationships, perceptual organisation and good visuomotor skills. Overall performance on the local and global shape tasks correlated only with the WAIS scores, not the SPM+. These results indicate that those aspects of NVIQ that engage spatial comprehension of local-global relationships and manual manipulation (WAIS), rather than more abstract reasoning (SPM+), are related to performance on the local and global shape tasks. Links are presented between various measures of NVIQ and performance on visual tasks, but they are currently seldom addressed in studies of either shape or colour perception. Further studies to explore these issues are recommended.

Depressive Symptoms Are Associated With Color Vision but not Olfactory Function in Patients With Parkinson's Disease.

Depressive symptoms and sensory dysfunction, such as reduction in visual and olfactory function, are common in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies have suggested that depressive symptoms are associated with visual impairments and potentially with hyposmia in several types of mood disorders. However, the relationship between depressive symptoms and sensory dysfunction remains unclear in PD. To examine the association of depressive symptoms with color vision and olfactory function in PD, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study in 159 patients with PD. Depressive symptoms were measured with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and the 30-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-30); color vision was tested with the Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Test (FMT); and olfactory function was tested with the Sniffin' Sticks Screening 12 Test. Results showed that the total error score (TES) for the FMT was significantly and independently correlated with scores on both the BDI-II and GDS-30 in a positive manner, suggesting that more severe depressive symptoms are associated with poorer color vision in PD. In addition, both somatic and effective subscores for the BDI-II were correlated with the TES on the FMT, while no significant correlation was observed between total scores on the Sniffin' Sticks Screening 12 Test and BDI-II or GDS-30. The decrease in color vision but not olfactory function was found to be associated with the severity of depressive symptoms in PD patients, supporting the idea that the occurrence of depressive symptoms in PD is linked with disruption of the visual system.