Research Tracker›Biomarker Atlas›Gulf War Illness›Contrast sensitivity

Contrast sensitivity in Gulf War Illness

In Gulf War Illness (GWI, Gulf War Syndrome), published studies report lower levels of Contrast sensitivity, also described as Ocular function test, than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Clinically, it has been associated with visual disturbance. This entry summarises Baksh et al. 2021. Group-level associations like this do not translate into an individual diagnostic cut-off.

↓ ReducedOcular

Summary

Direction in Gulf War Illness↓ Reduced — lower than in the comparison group
CategoryOcular
Also described asOcular function test
Compared againstHGV (healthy Gulf War veteran controls)
Associated symptomsVisual disturbance
Test typeClinical or physiological test
SourceBaksh et al. 2021 — doi:10.1093/milmed/usab024
Condition atlasGulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas

Related Ocular markers in Gulf War Illness

Full list: Gulf War Illness Biomarker Atlas.

Frequently asked questions

Is Contrast sensitivity high or low in Gulf War Illness?

Reduced. Studies summarised in the OSMF atlas report lower Contrast sensitivity in Gulf War Illness than in healthy Gulf War veteran controls. Source: Baksh et al. 2021.

What symptoms is Contrast sensitivity associated with in Gulf War Illness?

The cited literature associates this marker with Visual disturbance. These are population-level associations and do not mean the marker causes the symptoms.

Which test measures Contrast sensitivity?

It is measured as a clinical or physiological test. Many of the cited studies used research-grade assays, so clinical availability may vary.

Is one abnormal Contrast sensitivity result diagnostic of Gulf War Illness?

No. No single biomarker is diagnostic of Gulf War Illness. Contrast sensitivity findings come from group comparisons, overlap considerably between patients and controls, and vary with study design, timing and comparison group. A result should be interpreted by a clinician alongside symptoms, history and other tests.

Cite this page

Open Source Medicine Foundation. (2026). Contrast sensitivity in Gulf War Illness: direction, evidence and what it means. OSMF Research Tracker. Retrieved October 7, 2026, from https://research.opensourcemed.info/biomarkers/gulf-war-illness/contrast-sensitivity.html
Get OSMF research updates. New biomarker, trial and treatment evidence summaries by email.
Subscribe on Substack

Last reviewed: 2026-06-29 · Page generated from gulf-war-illness.json · Browse: Gulf War Illness atlas · Biomarker Index · All marker pages

Disclaimer: This page is an educational synthesis of published, peer-reviewed research and is not medical advice. Biomarker findings vary across studies with case definitions, comparison groups, timing and assay methods. Direction of change reflects the predominant finding in the cited source and does not establish a diagnostic threshold. Discuss any test result with a qualified clinician.