Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Visual fixation development in children
Eva Aring1, Marita Andersson Grönlund, Ann Hellström
1Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology/Ophthalmology, Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, Göteborg, Sweden. eva.aring@vgregion.se
Insights
Visual fixation improves in children aged 4-15 years, with increased fixation density and duration, and fewer saccades. This study provides normative data for identifying fixation abnormalities in children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Vision
Background:
- Steady visual fixation is crucial for visual function.
- Limited research exists on visual fixation development in healthy children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for binocular visual fixation in children aged 4-15 years.
- To identify developmental trends in visual fixation behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an infrared eye-tracking device (Orbit) to analyze binocular fixation.
- 135 non-clinical children aged 4-15 years participated.
- Participants fixated a stationary target for 20 seconds with head restraint.
Main Results:
- Fixation density and duration increased with age (p < 0.01, p = 0.02).
- Intruding saccades decreased with age (p < 0.01).
- Blinks, drifts, gender, and laterality showed no significant age-related differences.
Conclusions:
- This study provides reference values for visual fixation in children.
- These data aid in identifying children with fixation abnormalities.
Background:
The ability to keep steady fixation on a target is one of several aspects of good visual function. However, there are few reports on visual fixation during childhood in healthy children.
Methods:
An infrared eye-tracking device (Orbit) was used to analyse binocular fixation behaviour in 135 non-clinical participants aged 4-15 years. The children wore goggles and their heads were restrained using a chin and forehead rest, while binocularly fixating a stationary target for 20 s.
Results:
The density of fixations around the centre of gravity increased with increasing age (p < 0.01), and the time of fixation without intruding movements increased with increasing age (p = 0.02), while intruding saccades decreased with increasing age (p < 0.01). The number of blinks and drifts did not differ between 4 and 15 years, and there were no significant differences with regard to gender or laterality in any of the investigated variables. No nystagmus was observed.
Conclusion:
This study establishes values for visual fixation behaviour in a non-clinical population aged 4-15 years, which can be used for identifying children with fixation abnormalities.
Related Concept Videos
01:12Visual Agnosia
01:26Visual System
Once through the pupil, the light passes through the lens, a...