A striped pattern (grating) will appear at low contrast. Identify if the stripes are vertical or horizontal. Contrast decreases each round until you can't tell.
Contrast sensitivity measures your ability to distinguish an object from its background when the difference in brightness (luminance) is small - a genuinely different visual function from acuity (sharpness), which is what a standard eye chart measures. You can have perfect 20/20 acuity and still have poor contrast sensitivity, since acuity tests use high-contrast black letters on a white background, which is the easiest possible viewing condition.
This distinction matters enormously in real life: contrast sensitivity is what determines how well you see a pedestrian in dim light, a gray car against an overcast sky, or fog on a highway at night. It's also one of the earliest visual functions to decline with age or with certain eye conditions like cataracts, often well before acuity is noticeably affected - which is why ophthalmologists sometimes use contrast sensitivity charts as an early screening tool. This free contrast sensitivity test uses an adaptive staircase method similar to clinical assessments.
A routine vision screening at the DMV or optometrist typically only tests acuity, which explains why some people with genuinely poor low-light or foggy-condition vision still pass a standard eye exam without issue. Contrast sensitivity testing fills that gap, and dedicated clinical versions of this test are sometimes recommended for people reporting night-driving difficulty despite normal acuity results.
Screen quality and glare matter here more than most tests on this site - a dim, glossy screen with reflections will genuinely lower your measured contrast sensitivity independent of your actual visual ability, so try to test in a dim room without screen glare for the most accurate result. Age, certain medications, and eye conditions like early cataracts can also reduce contrast sensitivity even when acuity remains sharp.
Night drivers wondering about their low-light vision, older adults screening for early cataract symptoms, photographers and designers relying on precise visual perception, and anyone who passed a standard eye exam but still struggles in dim or foggy conditions should consider this free contrast sensitivity test.
No - acuity charts use maximum contrast (black on white) and only test sharpness. Contrast sensitivity tests how well you distinguish subtle brightness differences, a genuinely different visual function.
Yes, significantly - screen glare, low brightness, or a poor-quality display panel can all artificially lower your score independent of your actual contrast sensitivity.
Yes, completely free with an adaptive difficulty system and instant results, no signup required.
Contrast sensitivity is your ability to distinguish an object from its background when the difference in brightness is subtle, which matters for night driving, fog, and low-light conditions.
Acuity measures fine detail in high contrast (like an eye chart), while contrast sensitivity measures detail detection when contrast is low β you can have 20/20 vision and still have poor contrast sensitivity.
Yes, contrast sensitivity typically declines starting in the 40s and 50s, even before other vision problems become noticeable, which is why it's tracked separately in eye exams.
Yes, screen brightness and glare significantly affect results, so testing in a dim, glare-free room gives the most accurate measurement.