2021-Annual-Report

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SIGHT

demonstrate that contrast sensitivity is strongly dependent on the amount of light and that natural, bright light stimulates the visual brain more effectively and improves eyesight.” In the study, investigators measured the responses from neurons in the primary visual cortex of the brain—the part that processes visual information from the eye’s retina—to stimuli with different contrasts and light intensities. According to Dr. Rahimi-Nasrabadi and colleagues, following the prevailing belief that visual contrast remains constant no matter the luminance setting may cause critical measurement errors that have general implications in basic research and clinical care. “You can now feel good when you decide to read your favorite book outdoors and say that it is scientifically proven that visual contrast increases outdoors. We have shown that reading under bright light stimulates your visual brain more effectively, allows you to see the letters better, and may also help your eyesight,” said Dr. Rahimi- Nasrabadi. “The hope is that our study will serve as a catalyst for further investigation of contrast sensitivity and its role in current measures for the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of eye disease.”

Contrast sensitivity is defined as the luminance or color difference between the foreground and background of an object that allows you to decipher exactly what you’re viewing. It plays a part in many everyday situations, such as determining if a shadow is an animal, person, or object and being able to ascertain words, music notes, and numbers on a piece of paper or in a book. Unlike visual acuity, which is the ability to discern letters or numbers at a distance, contrast sensitivity is an essential measure of visual function in low light situations, fog, or glare when the contrast between objects and their background is often reduced. Driving at night is an example of a situation that requires good contrast sensitivity to navigate the road safely. “Until now, vision research has operated under the assumption that luminance contrast does not change with light intensity. That is, a dark letter on a white page has the same contrast outdoors (under the brightest light) than indoors (under the dimmest light),” said Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi, PhD, lead investigator and graduate student working in the laboratory of Jose-Manuel Alonso, MD, PhD, professor at SUNY Optometry. “Our study shows that this decades-old assumption is incorrect. We

Dr. Hamed Rahimi-Nasrabadi

Natural bright light can help your eyesight Pivotal Findings Shed Positive Light on the Benefits of eading Outdoors

Dr. Jose-Manuel Alonso

“ You can now feel good when you decide to read your favorite book outdoors and say that it is scientifically proven that visual contrast increases outdoors. We have shown that reading under bright light stimulates your visual brain more effectively, allows you to see the letters better, and may also help your eyesight.” — Dr. Rahimi-Nasrabadi

natural bright light can stimulate your visual brain more effectively, allow you to see objects and letters better, and help your eyesight. The study, published in Cell Reports on February 2, 2021, focuses on the role of contrast sensitivity.

Recent research has illuminated the benefits of natural light to eye health and development, particularly for curbing myopia, or nearsightedness, in children and young adults. Now a new study from the SUNY College of Optometry reveals how

20 SUNY OPTOMETRY ANNUAL REPORT

ANNUAL REPORT 21