A Performance Comparison of Color Vision Tests for Military Screening

Abstract

The current U.S. Army CV screening tests demonstrated good sensitivity and specificity, as did the automated tests. In addition, some current PIP tests (Dvorine, PIPC), and the CCT performed no worse statistically than the anomaloscope with regard to sensitivity/specificity. The CCT letter presentation is randomized and results would not be confounded by potential memorization, or fading, of book plates.

Quantitative cone contrast threshold testing in patients with differing pathophysiological mechanisms causing retinal diseases

“…Military screenings using CCT demonstrate 96-100% sensitivity and specificity for protan, deutan, and tritan CVD compared to the anomaloscope. 1,11 Our study team has also demonstrated in data under review that there was no learning effect, or improvement in scores, when individuals repeated this test multiple times 12…”

“…Human trichromatic vision enables the detection of 2.3 million colors with discrimination between wavelength differences of as little as 0.25 nm. 1 Despite 50 percent of visual information originating from color-sensitive cones in the fovea, clinical visual function testing is largely limited to visual acuity (VA) which quantifies minimal angle of resolution under maximal contrast (black-on-white) conditions. With its ease of use and wide accessibility, VA is the most used visual function test and is the “gold standard” for retinal disease clinical trials.…”

“…Routine color vision deficit (CVD) testing in practice is typically reserved for neurophthalmic disease, orbital compressive pathologies, and hereditary reitnopathies 4-6 with advantages and disadvantages for the various color and contrast assays. 1 The anomaloscope, considered the “gold standard” quantitative matching test for assessing CVD, 1,7 is rarely used because it is laborious, time-consuming, and restricted to quantifying CVD in the red-green axis. Instead, pseudoisochromatic plates are frequently used because they are easy to administer, rapid, and inexpensive; however, they provide low resolution quantitative results.…”

“…Instead, pseudoisochromatic plates are frequently used because they are easy to administer, rapid, and inexpensive; however, they provide low resolution quantitative results. 1,7 Quantitative arrangement tests like the Farnsworth Munsell 100 8 and computerized adaptations are lengthy and performance is confounded by external factors including nonverbal intelligence. 9…”

Colour contrast detection in chromaticity diagram: A new computerized colour vision test

“…The fourth type of tests are spectral tests, based on anomaloscopes: the subject is asked to realize metameric matches of a target coloured light spot (for instance yellow light) by mixing two monochromatic lights (for instance red and green light). Although very precise, this later type of test use is restricted to scientific research [8], be-cause of the high cost and need for extensive training of examiner.…”