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Updated: Jul 27, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
The effect of flicker rate on measured visual field extent in very young children
S M Delaney1, V Dobson, K M Mohan
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arizona, Tucson 85711, USA. delaney@u.arizona.edu
Insights
Flickering lights significantly expand the measured visual field in toddlers. This visual field enhancement in children using flickering stimuli suggests testing parameters impact visual field maturity.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Assessing visual field extent in young children presents unique challenges.
- Understanding factors influencing visual field development is crucial for early detection of visual impairments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine how different flicker rates of stimuli affect the measured visual field extent in toddlers.
- To compare visual field measurements in children and adults under varying flicker conditions.
Main Methods:
- A binocular static perimetry procedure was employed with 270 children (11, 17, 30 months) and 36 adults.
- Subjects were tested using LED stimuli at flicker rates of 0 Hz, 3 Hz, and 10 Hz.
- Visual field extent was quantified by the median farthest location seen and interpolated 50% detection points.
Main Results:
- Flickering stimuli (3 Hz and 10 Hz) resulted in a larger measured visual field extent in 11-, 17-, and 30-month-old children compared to nonflickering stimuli.
- No significant difference in measured visual field extent was observed between children and adults when using 10 Hz flicker stimuli.
- Adult visual field extent was not significantly affected by stimulus flicker rate.
Conclusions:
- Peripheral stimulus flicker enhances binocular measured visual field extent in infants and young children.
- The maturity of the visual field, as measured by perimetry, is influenced by the specific stimulus parameters, including flicker rate.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering stimulus characteristics when evaluating visual field development in early childhood.
Purpose:
To investigate the effect of flicker rate on measured visual field extent in toddlers.
Methods:
A total of 270 full-term children (90 each at 11-, 17-, and 30-months of age) and 36 adults were tested binocularly with an LED static perimetry procedure using a black double-arc perimeter. Each subject was tested with one of three flicker rates: 0, 3, or 10 Hz. The median farthest location seen and an interpolated estimate of the location at which 50% of the subjects detected the peripheral stimulus were calculated for each age group for each flicker rate.
Results:
For 11-, 17-, and 30-month-old subjects, but not adults, flickering stimuli produced a larger measured visual field extent than nonflickering stimuli. For the 10-Hz stimuli, measured visual field extent in children did not differ from that of adults.
Conclusions:
In infants and young children, binocular measured visual field extent is enhanced by peripheral stimulus flicker. Maturity of the measured visual field depends on the stimulus parameters used during testing.
