Objective: To compare the nighttime shooting performance with a group of normal and abnormal contrast sensitivity property.

Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Materials and Methods: Seventy-three participants from Infantry Regiment were recruited and underwent through eye examination tests, including visual acuity, color vision, contrast sensitivity test, and slit-lamp examination. Personal data and shooting experience were recorded. Shooting test with M16A1 Rifle in daytime and nighttime were performed.

Results: All participants were male with a mean age of 24.14±7.04 years old. Best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA] was 0.04±0.09 LogMAR. Mean Log contrast sensitivity was 2.24±0.07. Two participants had abnormal contrast sensitivity (1.8 Log). Five participants had abnormal color vision. The mean shooting score in daytime and nighttime were 6.88±2.32 and 5.30±3.00, respectively (p<0.001). No associated factors between nighttime shooting performance and contrast sensitivity property was found.

Conclusion: The accuracy of nighttime shooting was significantly less than daylight shooting. The present study showed no associated factor between contrast sensitivity and nighttime shooting performance. Further study with a larger sample size is needed for subgroup analysis.

Keywords: Contrast sensitivity, Night shooting, Daylight shooting