Use of displacement threshold hyperacuity to isolate the neural component of senile vision loss.

Displacement threshold hyperacuity is a visual task which should remain unaffected by the optical changes within the aging human eye. As such, it represents a method by which the neural component of senile vision loss may be studied. Displacement thresholds were measured in eighty subjects in the 18-85-yr age range. Results demonstrate a marked reduction in sensitivity with increasing age with the rate of deterioration being proportional to the age of the subject. This can only be attributed to senile changes within the neural system.