 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Kaye H. Kilburn, MD, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2025 Zonal Avenue, CSC 201, Los Angeles, CA 90033, (323) 442-1830, kilburn@usc.edu
Objectives. The purposes were, first to combine measured visual fields performance (VFP) by automated perimetry in three random populations unexposed to chemicals to develop prediction equations for VFP. Second to compare the sensitivity of VFP, color confusion index (CCI) and contrast sensitivity (CS) for detecting effects of neurotoxic chemicals. Third to compare visual indices to neurophysiological and neuropsychological measurements in subjects exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and unexposed controls.
Methods. VFP was measured in 229 unexposed referent subjects were used to derive prediction equations. Then visual functions VFP, CCI and CS were measured in 98 people exposed environmentally to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 58 unexposed referents. Regression analysis compared the association between these visual tests in exposed and referent subjects. Finally correlation coefficients were compared for visual tests and balance, reaction time and other neurobehavioral tests.
Results. VFP averaged 1368 decibels (db) in the right eye and 1359 (db) in the left eye. VFP and its standard deviation were the sensitive expressions and VFP decreased after age 35. Subjects exposed to PCBs had significantly reduced VFP, CCI and CS that were correlated but unexposed subjects lacked than correlations. VFP was correlated with balance, choice reaction time, digit symbol substitution, Culture Fair, peg placement, trail making A and B, picture completion and similarities but not with blink reflex latency, verbal recall and vocabulary.
Conclusions. VFP, CCI and CS measure eye-brain functions that are reduced when aging and PCBs impair other functions.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.