The CHiP study

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Exploration of Contrast Sensitivity (CS) using HIgh-Pass letters.

  • IRAS ID

    265556

  • Contact name

    Roger Anderson

  • Contact email

    rs.anderson@ulster.ac.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Ulster University

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 8 months, 30 days

  • Research summary

    Contrast sensitivity describes an observer’s ability to detect an object from its background, for example, the edge of a step on a staircase or food on a plate. Compared to visual acuity, the contrast sensitivity function correlates better with performance in visually guided everyday activities such as driving, walking, and the ability to recognise faces. Along with visual acuity, it is recognised as an outcome measure for clinical trials of Age related Macular Degeneration (AMD) by the FDA. Although increasingly used in patient monitoring, its mediocre repeatability and lack of disease-specific outcome has meant it is not as informative as it could be.
    A new contrast sensitivity test that had superior repeatability and was more sensitive to neural visual change could result in significantly improved patient outcomes in both clinical care and trials and provide better information about patient quality of life than current care regimens. This study will explore the repeatability of a new letter contrast sensitivity test on healthy participants and on participants with AMD.

  • REC name

    HSC REC A

  • REC reference

    19/NI/0208

  • Date of REC Opinion

    7 Nov 2019

  • REC opinion

    Further Information Favourable Opinion