Variation of color discrimination across the life span

Abstract

The present study, an extension of Paramei [J. Opt. Soc. Am. A, 29, A290, 2012], provides normative data on chromatic discrimination, using the Cambridge Colour Test, for normal trichromats aged 10-88 years. Findings are in accord with a two-phase variation across the life span: chromatic sensitivity improves in adolescence, reaches a maximum around 30 years, and then undergoes a gradual decrease. Indicative parameters are Protan (P), Deutan (D), and Tritan (T) vector lengths and major axes and axis ratios of Ellipses. Trivector data are modeled as non-monotonic combinations of power functions, with goodness-of-fits R(P)2=0.23, R(D)2=0.23, and R(T)2=0.45. For advancing age, sensitivity decline in all chromatic systems was confirmed, though with a marked acceleration after 60 years (reflected by the power function exponent >1) and more pronounced for the tritan system.

Comparison of color discrimination in chronic heavy smokers and healthy subjects

“…The CTT was performed in a darkened room with illumination provided only by the monitor used to present visual stimuli. Trivector provides a clinical assessment of color vision deficiencies as a rapid means screening of the existence of congenital or acquired deficits 12 . CCT uses pseudoisochromatic stimuli (Landolt C) defined by the test colors that are to be discriminated, on an achromatic background.…”

“…The participant was instructed to answer even if could not identify the stimulus gap 12 . After each correct answer, the chromaticity of the target proceeded closer to that of background, while each wrong answer or omission was followed by the presentation of the target at a greater chromatic distance from the background.…”

“…The advantage of this brief test is that it can be performed in about 5 minutes and provides a reliable result. 12 The three confusion axes converge at a point called 'point of intersection', and the xy coordinates used were: protan (0.6579, 0.5013), deutan (-1.2174, 0.7826) and tritan (0.2573, 0.0000) (for more details, see 13).…”

Color vision changes in normal aging

“…More recently, Paramei and Oakley also measured thresholds for displacement directions along the protan, deutan, and tritan lines, using the Cambridge Colour Test (CCT) (Paramei and Oakley, 2014). From a total of 423 subjects, 291 were selected for the study following a number of exclusion criteria which included self-reported congenital deficiency, known history of ocular/ retinal disease, cataract, diabetes, and known neurological diseases.…”

Differences in Chromatic Sensitivity Estimated Using Static and Dynamic Colour Stimuli

“…Several studies have confirmed that chromatic sensitivity changes depend on age (Kinnear and Sahraie, 2002;Paramei and Oakley, 2014), and the highest chromatic sensitivity occurs at age 19-29 years (depending on the study). Typically colour sensitivity increases until 19-26 years of age and gradual impairment of chromatic sensitivity is observed after 26 years of age (Knoblauch et al, 2001;Paramei and Oakley, 2014;Barbur and RodriguezCarmona, 2015).…”