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A lantern color vision test for the rail industry
Author(s) -
Hovis Jeffery K.,
Oliphant David
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0274(200012)38:6<681::aid-ajim8>3.0.co;2-4
Subject(s) - lantern , medicine , color discrimination , color vision , color vision defects , test (biology) , color perception test , computer vision , artificial intelligence , optometry , computer science , paleontology , chemistry , organic chemistry , ring (chemistry) , biology
Background Correct identification of wayside signal colors is critical for safe operation of railway equipment. However, evaluating color discrimination using just a screening test may not be occupationally relevant. Methods A lantern test (CNLAN) was designed to provide a functional assessment of color discrimination for the rail industry. It was validated against a simulated field trial. 81 individuals with normal color vision and 74 individuals with congenital red–green defects participated. Color vision was classified using the Nagel Anomaloscope. Results Using a criterion based on the worst‐normal performance, 97% of the individuals with a color vision defect failed both the CNLAN and simulation trial. This value is slightly lower than the 100% who failed both the Ishihara test and simulation. However, the Ishihara test also failed 3.7% of the color‐normals who passed both the simulation and lantern, whereas by definition none of the color‐normals failed the lantern. Conclusions This lantern test provides a reasonable functional assessment of one's ability to identify rail signal colors; especially when a strict failing criterion is applied to screening tests. Am. J. Ind. Med. 38:681–696, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.