ABSTRACT
Contrast sensitivity and Stereopsis are key tests in assessing functional vision, despite their
importance in clinical practice these tests remain underused amongst professionals to determine
the effect of refractive errors on these visual functions. This study was aimed at determining the
effect of myopia and hyperopia on contrast sensitivity and stereopsis before and after correction.
A total of hundred (100) healthy young individuals between 18-27 years of age who met the
inclusion criteria participated in this study. Contrast sensitivity and Stereopsis was taken before
and after spectacle correction with contrast sensitivity values measured both monocularly and
binocularly. The results of this study showed that there was significant differences between the
unaided contrast sensitivity and stereopsis in myopes and hyperopes (p < 0.001) and differences
between the aided contrast sensitivity and stereopsis in myopes and hyperopes was not significant
( p=1.000 and p=0.213 respectively). This study also revealed significant differences amongst
certain degrees of myopia and hyperopia. In conclusion, this study showed that while significant
differences exist in the contrast sensitivity and stereopsis of myopes and hyperopes, with spectacle
prescription these groups of refractive errors are brought to a somewhat similar level. This
contributes to the understanding of how these visual functions are affected in myopes and
hyperopes.
Keywords: contrast sensitivity, stereopsis, myopes, hyperopes
