Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 18, 2026
An Automated Method for Assessing Visual Acuity in Infants and Toddlers Using an Eye-Tracking System
Published on: March 17, 2023
[The grating acuity of children in preschool age]
Ming-guang Shi1, Li-qin Jiang, Chun Zhou
1Department of Ophthalmology, Second Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325027, China. pshimg@wzhealth.com
Insights
Binocular grating acuity in children develops rapidly in the first year, stabilizing around age three. The closed-circuit operant preferential looking system (COPLs) effectively measures this visual development in young children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Pediatrics
- Visual Science
Context:
- Assessing visual acuity in preschool children is crucial for early detection of developmental issues.
- Traditional methods for visual acuity testing can be challenging in infants and very young children.
- The closed-circuit operant preferential looking system (COPLs) offers a potential solution for objective visual assessment.
Purpose:
- To investigate the developmental trajectory of binocular grating acuity in preschool children.
- To evaluate the reliability and efficacy of the COPLs for measuring visual acuity in this age group.
- To determine the age at which visual acuity matures in young children.
Summary:
- Binocular grating acuities were measured in 599 children aged 2-72 months using the COPLs.
- The COPLs demonstrated high reliability (90% measurable rates) and accuracy.
- Grating acuity showed rapid development in the first year, slowing between 30-36 months, and stabilizing after age three.
Impact:
- The COPLs system is a practical tool for assessing grating visual acuity in infants and preschool children.
- This study provides valuable data on the typical visual development timeline in early childhood.
- Findings can inform clinical practice and screening protocols for pediatric vision disorders.
Objective:
To study the developmental trend of the binocular grating acuity of preschool children.
Methods:
Binocular grating acuities in 599 children from 2 months to 72 months old (18 groups) were measured using the closed-circuit operant preferential looking system (COPLs). The children included in the investigation were required to be a normal term birth, development and normal eyes, and cycloplegic refraction error within specific limits. The system's reliabilities and measurable rates were also evaluated.
Results:
The difference of the vision acuities obtained by the same tester on different days has no statistic significance. The measurable rates reached 90% in most age groups. The grating acuity of the children included in the study developed rapidly during first year, and then it reached to a slower development period from 30 to 36-months, the grating acuity stabilized after 3 years old.
Conclusion:
The COPL system is a practical devise to assess the grating visual acuity of infants and preschool children and it can be used to investigate the vision developmental trend including speed, age of its maturation and the top-acuity of the development.
