Is there an association between Perceptual Ability Test scores and color vision acuity?

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if there is an association between Perceptual Ability Test (PAT) results and color vision deficiency (CVD).

Methods: Three consecutive classes of first-year dental students (n = 291) voluntarily participated in the study. The Farnsworth-Munsell 100 Hue Color Vision test (FM-100) was administered to students beneath a Macbeth Judge II viewing booth that provided ideal lighting conditions to ascertain CVD. Results of FM-100 test were recorded as total error scores (TES). Color acuity was scored as superior (TES 0-16), average (TES 20-100), or poor (TES > 100). Additional information of age, sex, ethnicity, and time to complete the FM-100 was obtained. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the association between PAT and CVD while adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity, and time to complete the FM-100 test.

Results: TES ranged from 0-244. There were 132 students with superior color acuity, 161 with average, and eight with poor acuity. Females performed better than males on the FM-100 test. Time to complete the FM-100 test ranged from 3:40 minutes to 25:12 minutes. There was a strong relationship between PAT scores and CVD (P = 0.0003). A 1-unit increase in PAT scores was found to result in a 9% decrease in TES; indicating that students with higher PAT scores are less likely to have CVD.

Conclusion: The PAT may be a preliminary screening instrument to identify students who may have CVD. The FM-100 test can then confirm the presence of CVD. Students with CVD may desire to improve dental shade matching skills through targeted training and education.