Assessment of spatial–contrast function and short-wavelength sensitivity deficits in patients with migraine

Abstract

Aims To study spatial-contrast function and short-wavelength sensitivity deficits in a migraine population with a disease duration of 30 years or less. Materials and methods In this prospective, cross-sectional study, we evaluated 28 subjects with migraine headache and 15 nonheadache healthy controls. Visual fields were evaluated using the Humphrey Field Analyzer 750i and the 30-2, blue and yellow threshold programme. Contrast sensitivity (CS) was measured at 1.5, 3, 6, 12, and 18 cpd spatial frequencies, using the Functional Acuity Contrast Test (F.A.C.T.TM ).The results of the visual field parameters (mean defect (MD) and pattern standard defect (PSD)) and CS were compared with 15 age-equivalent normal subjects.Results Short-wavelength amplitude perimetry (SWAP) parameters and CS scores at all spatial frequencies were significantly altered in the migraine patients when compared with the control subjects. Visual field parameters correlated significantly with contrast sensitivity scores: positively for MD (r ¼ 0.39, P ¼ 0.01; r ¼ 0.43, P ¼ 0.005; r ¼ 0.56, P ¼ 0.0001; r ¼ 0.45, P ¼ 0.003; r ¼ 0.48, P ¼ 0.0001) and negatively for PSD (r ¼ À0.45, P ¼ 0.003; r ¼ À0.45, P ¼ 0.003; r ¼ À0.51, P ¼ 0.001; r ¼ À0.53, P ¼ 0.0001; and r ¼ À0.67, P ¼ 0.0001) at all (1.5, 3, 6,12, and 18 cpd) spatial frequencies, respectively. Migraine duration correlated negatively with MD (r ¼ À0.42, P ¼ 0.04) and positively with PSD (r ¼ 0.42, P ¼ 0.03). Conclusion Migraineurs had significantly altered visual field and contrast function at all spatial frequencies to the normal population.These defects share some features with early stages of glaucoma and may relate a possibility for a common vascular disease pathogenesis in these two conditions.

Low Spatial Frequency Contrast Sensitivity Deficits in Migraine are not Visual Pathway Selective

“…In contrast, a recent study by Yenice et al. (15) found contrast sensitivity reductions in people with migraine across the entire range of spatial frequencies tested (1.5–18 c/deg).…”

The Cerebellum and Migraine

“…Visual dysfunction may also impair coordination and probably impacts balance in migraine 44 . Spatiotemporal function and motion processing are reportedly abnormal in migraineurs interictally 45,46 and visual fields and contrast functions differ from controls 47 …”

Repeatability of contrast sensitivity testing in patients with age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma, and cataract

“…It has been well documented that the spatial and temporal types of CS decrease in people with glaucoma (11,32,33) . Grating CS tests are promising for the detection of early glaucoma and its progression (32,34) .…”

“…Snellen acuity tests have a limited ability to detect fine changes in contrast because high contrast letters (black on white) are used (9) . Also, recent advances in knowledge about refractive surgery, optical tissues, and glaucoma and macular diseases revealed that the Snellen acuity test is inadequate for early detection of eye diseases and measurement of functional vision (6,(10)(11)(12) . CS decreases in all stages of glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) have been documented using different testing methods (7,(12)(13)(14)(15) .…”