Stereoacuity testability in African-American and Hispanic pre-school children

To determine testability using the Randot Pre-school Stereoacuity Test in black and Hispanic children 30 to 72 months of age.

A population-based cohort of children 30 to 72 months of age was administered the Randot Pre-school Stereoacuity Test, with presenting refractive correction, and before cover testing, visual acuity testing, or refraction. Children who could not point to specified two-dimensional demonstration pictures, and children who would not try to name or match random dot figures to the corresponding two-dimensional pictures, were classified as unable to perform the test. Children who were able to perform the task but could not correctly identify at least two 800-arcsecond random dot figures were classified as having no stereopsis, and were retested by another examiner.

Stereoacuity testing was attempted in 1662 Hispanic and 1470 black children. Overall, 80% of children were able to be tested; 33% of children 30 to 36 months of age, 73% of children 37 to 48 months of age, 96% of children 49 to 60 months of age, and 98% of children 61 to 72 months of age were testable. Older children were significantly more likely to complete testing successfully than younger children (p < 0.0001). After adjusting for age, there was no significant ethnicity-related difference in testability (p = 0.19); however, there was a small but significant gender-related difference (p = 0.0002) with more girls (82%) than boys (77%) able to complete testing.

Eighty percent of children aged 30 to 72 months can be tested using the Randot Pre-school Stereoacuity test. Testability increases steadily with age, and 97% of children over 48 months of age can complete the test. Testability does not differ between children of Hispanic and black ethnicity.