Standards for Contrast Acuity/Sensitivity and Glare Testing

The central element of contrast sensitivity and glare testing is edge detection at specific contrast and brightness levels. Discernment of luminance gradients is a delicate task that is significantly affected by alterations in test procedures. Differences in display area, luminance, test object design, statistical validation procedures, and contrast often generate inconsistent and/or contradictory test results.1-7 Future difficulties will inevitably occur because of the inability to transfer, correlate, or confirm laboratory and clinical information. There is an immediate need for general agreement on the critical design criteria of these devices and on uniform test procedures.