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INTRODUCTION 1 EMERGENT TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL PERFORMANCE INTRODUCTION Recent vision research has led to the emergence of new techniques that offer exciting potential for a more complete assessment of vision in clinical, industrial, and military settings. Four areas of vision testing are examined in this report; the working group believes that each area offers potential for improved assessment of visual capability: (1) Contrast sensitivity function; (2) Dark-focus of accommodation; (3) Dynamic visual acuity and dynamic depth tracking; and (4) Ambient and focal vision. Each of these topics is discussed in a separate section of the report; each section focuses on issues related to screening industrial and military visual functions. The report concludes with summary recommendations for research that will have great value and impact 5 or 10 years from now. The report is followed by four appendixes that give additional information and detail on spatial contrast sensitivity, detection sensitivity and response bias, Fourier analysis, and the use of tests for screening and selection. The content and conclusions of this report have serious policy implications for screening industrial and military visual function. For instance, it may eventually be possible to use the techniques described to identify subjects who are exceptionally good at certain visual performance tasks and, conversely, to screen for deficiencies not detected by current procedures. Adoption of new screening procedures would entail policy issues because of the potential shift in standards for personel. Similarly, if new techniques for assessment of visual impairment came into standard clinical use, policy for the provision of social services might eventually be affected. Although we appreciate this fact, we have not recommended any policy changes. We believe that policy recommendations should be left to groups more appropriately constituted to make them. Our role has been to point out the value of using these new methods. We believe that, if the proper research is carried out in these areas, we will avoid the mistake of adopting testing methods or standards that are arbitrary or not soundly based on basic research .
