Effect of levodopa treatment on contrast sensitivity in Parkinson's disease.

ABSTRACT

We studied contrast sensitivity function in 10 parkinsonian patients before and after levodopa treatment. Pretreatment contrast sensitivity function was abnormal in 16 of the 20 eyes. After treatment, only high-frequency loss was observed in 6 eyes. All other types of deficit disappeared under treatment. These changes of contrast sensitivity function following treatment suggest that dopamine is a functional transmitter in the visual pathways.