WP 2.1: Normal changes in central and peripheral contrast sensitivity with ageing

Subtle functional losses in peripheral vision can precede clinical signs of ocular disease. This project therefore explores how contrast sensitivity changes across the central and peripheral visual field with ageing, pairing functional assessment with local retinal structure. The aim is to facilitate early detection of ocular and retinal diseases, such as AMD and glaucoma.

The project combines contrast sensitivity measurements in our peripheral adaptive optics vision simulator with data of local retinal structures from state-of-the-art clinical instruments (e.g. optical coherence tomography). So far, reference measurements have been performed in young adults using custom-built psychophysical setup for quick assessment of the foveal and peripheral contrast sensitivity function while accounting for optical aberrations. These results were compared with neural limitations to peripheral vision through the cortical magnification model and will soon also be compared with an older cohort. The next step is to adopt this method for assessing peripheral vision in a clinical setting, without the need for laboratory-based adaptive optics corrections, but with proper correction of peripheral aberrations with the greatest impact. Ultimately, this will allow for comparisons between functional vision and structural retinal measures, supporting early detection of abnormal changes.