Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

A Laser-induced Mouse Model of Chronic Ocular Hypertension to Characterize Visual Defects
07:00

A Laser-induced Mouse Model of Chronic Ocular Hypertension to Characterize Visual Defects

Published on: August 14, 2013

Delayed visual attention caused by high myopic refractive error

Kimberly M Winges1, Ursula Zarpellon, Chuan Hou

  • 1Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute, 2318 Fillmore Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

Strabismus
|July 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Delayed visual maturation (DVM) in infants may be caused by uncorrected high myopia. Prompt refractive error assessment is crucial for diagnosing visually unresponsive infants and ensuring timely treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

  • Delayed visual maturation (DVM) is a diagnosis of exclusion for infants with poor visual behavior despite normal objective acuity.
  • The etiology of DVM is complex, with various neurodevelopmental and ocular factors implicated.
  • DVM is typically diagnosed retrospectively after visual recovery.

Observation:

  • Two infants presented with symptoms consistent with DVM, exhibiting unresponsiveness to visual stimuli from birth.
  • Objective testing revealed normal visual acuity, but both infants were later found to have significant high myopia.
  • Patient 1 had -4 D (right eye) and -5 D (left eye); Patient 2 had -9 D in both eyes.

Findings:

  • Immediate improvement in visually-directed behavior was observed in both infants upon spectacle correction.
  • This suggests that high refractive error, specifically high myopia, was the primary cause of their apparent visual inattention.
  • The findings challenge the traditional understanding of DVM and its potential causes.

Implications:

  • High myopia should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants presenting with delayed visual maturation or apparent blindness.
  • Early and accurate refractive error assessment is critical for timely intervention in such cases.
  • This study may improve diagnostic approaches for infants with visual impairments.

More Related Videos

Binocular Dynamic Visual Acuity in Eyeglass-Corrected Myopic Patients07:06

Binocular Dynamic Visual Acuity in Eyeglass-Corrected Myopic Patients

Published on: March 29, 2022

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss07:12

A Gaze-Contingent Display Framework for Perceptual Learning Research with Simulated Central Vision Loss

Published on: April 11, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
Focusing of Light in the Eye01:16

Focusing of Light in the Eye

Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways01:22

Photoreceptors and Visual Pathways

At the molecular level, visual signals trigger transformations in photopigment molecules, resulting in changes in the photoreceptor cell's membrane potential. The photon's energy level is denoted by its wavelength, with each specific wavelength of visible light associated with a distinct color. The spectral range of visible light, classified as electromagnetic radiation, spans from 380 to 720 nm. Electromagnetic radiation wavelengths exceeding 720 nm fall under the infrared category, whereas...
Color Vision01:24

Color Vision

Color perception begins in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Two main theories explain how colors are seen: the trichromatic theory and the opponent-process theory. The trichromatic theory, proposed by Thomas Young in 1802 and extended by Hermann von Helmholtz in 1852, suggests that color vision is based on three types of cone receptors in the retina. These cones are sensitive to different but overlapping ranges of wavelengths corresponding to red, blue, and green.