Comparative Analysis of the Mollon-reffin Minimal Colour Vision Test in Visually ‘Normal’ and Acquired Ocular Disease

Aim: Currently a variety of different colour vision tests exist in clinical practice each with its own merits and limitations. The Ishihara test is commonly used to test for congenital deficiency, causing red-green deficits. However acquired deficiency is also common in any ocular pathology affecting the optic nerve. The aim of this study is to compare the Mollon-reffin Minimal Test (MRMT) against the Ishihara and City colour vision tests.

Methods: All three tests were performed within the same clinic visit with a small rest between tests. The main parameters of interest were correlation levels between tests for defect detection, severity grading and defect type classification. We assessed the time taken to complete testing and evaluated the patients experience of test.

Results: We assessed 100 patients and 54 visually ‘normal’ subjects, with re-testing in the latter group to evaluate test-retest reliability. We found a reasonable level of agreement between the MRMT and the other tests once considering possible confounders for defect detection, severity grading and defect type classification in the patient group. There was a strong level of agreement in the visually normal group which suggests a high specificity relative to the other tests. The time taken to perform the MRMT is clinically acceptable in comparison to the City Test.

Conclusions: Patients experiences of the MRMT were positive and they preferred it to the other tests. We recommend that the MRMT be used detect colour vision defects or monitor deficiency, in patients with a significant visual field defect.