Thresholds for detection of change of size and for detection of change of velocity were measured in young and elderly observers. No differences in thresholds between these subject groups were found at the fovea or in more peripheral retina. The results indicate a degree of functional redundancy in the peripheral retina of elderly subjects, even though there is evidence of reduced numbers of functional photoreceptors in the periphery.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1980“Demography” in Year Book Australia, Number 64 (Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service) pp 91–123.
2.
BellBWolfEBernholzC D, 1972“Depth perception as function of age”Ageing and Human Development377–81.
3.
BrownR H, 1960“Weber ratio for visual discrimination of velocity”Science1311809–1810.
4.
FarrimondT, 1967“Visual and auditory performance variations with age: Some implications”Australian Journal of Psychology19193–201.
5.
FaulknerC R, 1975“Ages of drivers involved in some junction accidents” Report SR131, Department of the Environment, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berks, UK.
6.
FinneyD J, 1947Probit Analysis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).
7.
GartnerSHenkindP, 1981“Aging and degeneration of the human macula. 1. Outer nuclear layer and photoreceptors”British Journal of Ophthalmology6523–28.
8.
HillsB, 1975“Some studies of movement perception, age and accidents” Supplementary Report 137 UC, Department of the Environment, Transport and Road Research Laboratory, Crowthorne, Berks, UK.
9.
HillsB L, 1980“Vision, visibility, and perception in driving”Perception9183–216.
10.
HoffmanC SPriceA CGarrettF SRothsteinW, 1959“Effect of age and brain damage on depth perception”Perceptual and Motor Skills9283–286.
11.
JaniS N, 1966“The age factor in stereopsis screening”American Journal of Optometry and Archives of American Academy of Optometry43653–657.
12.
KoenderinkJ Bvan DoornA Jvan de GrindW A, 1985“Spatial and temporal parameters of motion detection in peripheral visual field”Journal of the Optical Society of AmericaA2252–259.
13.
LeibowitzH WJudischJ M, 1967a“The relation between age and the magnitude of the Ponzo illusion”American Journal of Psychology80105–109.
14.
LeibowitzH WJudischJ M, 1967b“Size-constancy in older persons: A function of distance”American Journal of Psychology80294–296.
15.
MarshallJGrindleJAnsellP LBorweinB, 1979“Convolution in human rods: An ageing process”British Journal of Ophthalmology63181–187.
16.
McKeeS P, 1981“A local mechanism for differential velocity discrimination”Vision Research21491–500.
17.
McKeeS PNakayamaK, 1984“The detection of motion in the peripheral visual field”Vision Research2425–32.
18.
McKeeS PSilvermanG HNakayamaK, 1986“Precise velocity discrimination despite random variations in temporal frequency and contrast”Vision Research26609–619.
19.
McKeeS PWelchL, 1985“Sequential recruitment in the discrimination of velocity”Journal of the Optical Society of AmericaA2243–251.
20.
OrbanGVan CalenburghFDe BruynBMaesH, 1985“Velocity discrimination in central and peripheral visual field”Journal of the Optical Society of AmericaA21836–1847.
21.
OrdyJ MBrizzeeK R, 1979“Functional and structural age differences in the visual system of man and nonhuman primate models” in Aging volume 10 Sensory Systems and Communications in the Elderly Eds OrdyJ MBrizzeeK R, (New York: Raven Press) pp 13–50.
22.
OwsleyCSekulerRSiemsenD, 1983“Contrast sensitivity throughout adulthood”Vision Research23689–699.
23.
ReadingV M, 1972“Visual resolution as measured by dynamic and static tests”Pfluegers Archiv. European Journal of Physiology (Berlin)33317–26.
24.
SekulerRKlineDDismukesK, (Eds) 1982Aging and Human Visual Function (New York: Liss).
25.
WealeR A, 1982A Biography of the Eye (London: H K Lewis).
