Color-vision disturbances in patients with coronary artery disease

• Published in: Color research and application Vol. 26; no. S1; pp. S288 - S291
• Main Authors: Erb, Carl, Voelker, Wolfram, Adler, Martin, Wohlrab, Michael, Zrenner, Eberhart
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 2001
• Subjects: color vision; coronary artery disease; perilimbal vessels; Roth 28-hue desaturated
• ISSN: 0361-2317; 1520-6378
• DOI: 10.1002/1520-6378(2001)26:1+<::AID-COL63>3.0.CO;2-E

In view of the generally impaired vascular condition in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), we were interested in the condition of their color perception. Color vision was examined by the cap‐sorting test, Roth 28‐hue desaturated. Twenty‐four patients (m:f = 23:1; mean age 58 ± 9 years) with an angiographically documented coronary artery disease and 30 generally healthy controls (m:f = 29:1; mean age 54 ± 7) were examined. Visual acuity, visual field, intraocular pressure, and the cup/disc ratio of the patients were within normal range. However, the results of the color vision testing revealed a significantly higher error score in the group of patients with CAD than in the control group (median ± mean absolute deviation: 222 ± 84; p < 0.001). In conclusion, although patients with coronary artery disease appeared ophthalmologically healthy under routine eye examination, their color vision was disturbed. This should be taken into account in color‐vision testing to avoid diagnostic inferences between specifically ocular diseases (e.g., glaucoma) and atherosclerosis. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 26, S288–S291, 2001