contrastsensitive

Contrast-sensitive is an adjective describing systems, processes, or judgments that depend on contrast between light and dark or between colors. In vision science and related fields, contrast sensitivity refers to the ability to detect small differences in luminance or color, rather than to resolve fine spatial detail alone. The term is commonly written as contrast-sensitive or contrast sensitivity; the concatenated form contrastsensitive is uncommon outside specific code or branding.

In human vision, the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) describes sensitivity across spatial frequencies, showing that people are most sensitive to mid-range frequencies and less sensitive to very low or very high frequencies. Measuring CSF typically involves tasks such as detecting or discriminating grating patterns, letters, or textures at varying contrasts. Contrast sensitivity is often more predictive of real-world visual performance than acuity, particularly in low-contrast lighting, fog, or complex scenes.

Clinical significance: Reduced contrast sensitivity is associated with many ocular and neurological conditions, including cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, and multiple sclerosis. It can deteriorate before standard acuity measurements change, making CSF testing valuable for early diagnosis, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating treatment outcomes.

Applications and domains: In display and UI design, knowledge of contrast sensitivity guides choices about luminance contrast and color pairing to maximize legibility. In imaging and computer vision, algorithms may be designed to be contrast-aware, enhancing features in regions where contrast is high or compensating for low-contrast areas to improve detection and interpretation.