Valoración de la percepción de contraste en conducción mesópicamétodos psicofísicos de simulación

Abstract

Under mesopic lighting conditions, visual information is reduced; contour discrimination and color perception are decreased. This reduction in visual perception during night driving increases the risk of accidents. Therefore, for the obtention and renovation of a driving license, it is essential to include visual acuity and contrast sensitivity assessments in low-light conditions, similar to those that exist during night driving. The objective of this Thesis is to find a predictor of mesopic visual function through analysis under photopic conditions using simulation elements. For this aim, first, the correlation between mesopic visual acuity and photopic visual acuity was studied, evaluated with the ETDRS test of different contrasts and with the interposition of filters of different optical densities. On the other hand, the correlation between mesopic contrast sensitivity and photopic contrast sensitivity, measured with the CSV-1000 test with filter interposition, was analyzed. The study was carried out in 56 people, aged between 20 and 71 years, all of them in possession of the Spanish driving license. The results indicate that, the use of 20% contrast optotypes with an 80% filter for the assessment of the visual acuity, and the use of filters of 90% and 70% for contrast sensitivity, in photopic conditions, allows us to know the status of the visual function of drivers overnight. In conclusion, economic and practical predictors have been determined to assess mesopic visual function using psychophysical simulation methods under photopic conditions.