Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine intrasession repeatability of a worksheet style contrast sensitivity test (SpotChecks) in children and agreement with an established contrast sensitivity test (Pelli-Robson).
Methods: Forty-three children aged 4 to 12 years participated in this single visit study that included two administrations of the SpotChecks binocularly, a single administration of the Pelli-Robson test and other measures of visual performance such as high-contrast visual acuity. Test order was randomised, and participants wore their habitual correction (39 unaided, 4 wearing glasses) for testing. Bland-Altman plots were used to assess the test-retest repeatability of SpotChecks and its agreement with the Pelli-Robson test. Multiple linear regressions were performed to evaluate whether contrast sensitivity was related to participant characteristics such as age, sex and near binocular visual acuity.
Results: The mean difference in log contrast sensitivity (logCS) between two administrations of the SpotChecks was 0.01, with a coefficient of repeatability (1.96*SD of differences) of 0.14 logCS. The mean difference between SpotChecks and Pelli-Robson was 0.00 logCS with 95% limits of agreement of -0.19 to +0.20. For both tests, a statistically significant increase in logCS was associated with age (slopes were 0.02 logCS/year, p < 0.001 and 0.01 logCS/year, p = 0.02 for the SpotChecks and Pelli-Robson tests, respectively).
Conclusions: The SpotChecks test shows good intrasession repeatability and excellent agreement with the Pelli-Robson test in children. Contrast sensitivity showed an increase in logCS with age in children for both tests.
Keywords: contrast sensitivity; paediatrics; repeatability; test agreement; visual acuity.
© 2022 The Authors. Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of College of Optometrists.