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Published on: July 21, 2020
Binocular coordination of saccades during reading in strabismic children
Cynthia Lions1, Emmanuel Bui-Quoc, Magali Seassau
1UMR Inserm-Université Paris Diderot, Hôpital Robert Debré, Paris, France. cynthia.lions.giraud@gmail.com
Insights
Strabismic children exhibit poorer binocular saccade coordination during reading tasks compared to their peers. This deficiency in eye movement control may impact reading abilities, highlighting the importance of binocular vision.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Strabismus, a common condition affecting eye alignment, can impact visual development and function.
- Limited research exists on binocular eye movements during reading in children with strabismus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare binocular saccade coordination during a reading task in children with strabismus versus age-matched controls.
- To assess the impact of strabismus on the accuracy and efficiency of eye movements essential for reading.
Main Methods:
- Binocular eye movements were recorded using an infrared system (mobile EBT) in 18 strabismic children and 18 non-strabismic controls.
- Participants silently read a four-line text under binocular viewing conditions.
- Data on saccade amplitude, binocular coordination, and fixation duration were analyzed and compared between groups.
Main Results:
- Saccade amplitude was comparable between strabismic and control children.
- Binocular saccade coordination was significantly impaired in strabismic children compared to controls.
- Fixation duration was significantly longer in strabismic children, and those with some binocular vision showed better, though still deficient, coordination.
Conclusions:
- Strabismic children demonstrate deficient binocular saccade coordination, potentially contributing to reading difficulties.
- The presence of binocular vision, even if impaired, offers some improvement in saccade yoking but does not normalize function.
- These findings underscore the critical role of binocular vision in developing efficient reading-related eye movements.
Purpose:
To our knowledge, studies comparing binocular eye movements during reading task in strabismic children are scarce. The goal of our study was to examine binocular coordination of saccades during reading in strabismic children.
Methods:
Binocular eye movements were recorded by an infrared system (mobile EBT) in 18 strabismic children 6.8 to 16 years old (mean age 10.2 ± 3) who were asked to read a four-line text silently during binocular viewing. Data were compared to that of 18 age-matched non-strabismic control children.
Results:
Saccade amplitude was similar in strabismic and control children. In contrast, binocular coordination during and after the saccades was significantly poorer in strabismic children as opposed to control children. The duration of fixation also was significantly longer in strabismic children compared to controls. Binocular coordination in strabismic children who have binocular vision was better than those without binocular vision, but it still was worse than in control subjects.
Conclusions:
In strabismic children binocular saccade coordination is deficient and could be responsible for impaired reading capabilities. Binocular vision has an important role in improving binocular saccade yoking.
