Richmond Products Inc
Near-Contrast testing can provide an efficient means to detect or track ocular pathologies, including glaucoma, ARMD, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and keratoconus. Low-contrast acuity loss measurement can also be helpful in demonstrating to patients and their families the need for intervention such as cataract surgery or occupational and lifestyle changes. Richmond Products has developed a new Adult Near-Contrast Test Booklet with contrast sensitivity levels of 100, 25, 10, 5 and 2.5 percent using Michelson measures. These are printed on high-quality styrene plastic for long-term durability. Each contrast level has ETDR- style letters and Continuous Reading Examples. This new test provides additional capabilities compared to the Holladay Functional Acuity Contrast Test (F.A.C.T.™), which is currently unavailable.
The ETDRS-style lettering employed in the Richmond test provides excellent repeatability and is an objective measure useful for medical insurance submission. The continuous text at each contrast level provides a ‘real world’ example to help patients recognize any decline in low-contrast acuity. Use of the test booklet at near (16 inches/40 cm) is much quicker than repositioning a patient to use a distance contrast test such as the Pelli-Robson. Since both full-contrast and other contrast levels are presented under the same conditions, the illumination is identical. This permits accurate comparison of the results at the various contrast levels.
Other product features include ETDRS and test shown at 17 levels from 20/400 to 20/10. Acuity measure equivalents are shown in Snellen feet and meters, LogMAR, decimal and letter size. Pages are tabbed at each contrast level. A score card, recording form and comprehensive instructions are also provided to support plotting of a graph of the patient’s results indicating the relationship of visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Normal ratios are also indicated to permit comparison.