Clinical visual acuity assessment is performed with maximum optotype contrast within a very narrow luminance range (80-320 cd/m²), barely reflecting patients’ visual capabilities in daily life. However, visual acuity alone does not adequately assess the visual performance in retinal disorders, especially in those causing an increased glare-sensitivity like achromatopsia.

For a more realistic assessment of patients’ visual performance under everyday life conditions with different contrast levels (C) and ambient luminance (AL), we develop a novel visual acuity score, called VA-CAL in cooperation with the Zrenner Lab.

1. Hilmers J, Straßer T, Bach M, Stingl K, Zrenner E. Quantification of the Dynamic Visual Acuity Space at Real-World Luminances and Contrasts: The VA-CAL Test. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2022;11: 12. doi:10.1167/tvst.11.4.12
2. Hilmers, J.; Bach, M.; Stingl, K.; Zrenner, E.; Straßer, T. The VA-CAL Test Quantifies Improvement of Visual Acuity in Achromatopsia by Means of Short-Wave Cutoff Filter Glasses in Daily Living Conditions. Transl. Vis. Sci. Technol. 2023, 12, 20, doi:10.1167/tvst.12.6.20.
3. Onyszkiewicz, M.; Hilmers, J.; Rejdak, R.; Zrenner, E.; Straßer, T. Effects of Miosis on the Visual Acuity Space under Varying Conditions of Contrast and Ambient Luminance in Presbyopia. J. Clin. Med. 2024, 13, 1209, doi:10.3390/jcm13051209.