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[Behavioral determination of visual acuity in 1-to-4-year-old children]
D J Heersema1, J van Hof-van Duin
1Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam.
Insights
Visual acuity in children aged 1-4 years gradually improves, but adult levels are not reached by age 4. This study establishes age-specific norms for visual acuity in young children.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Developmental Biology
Context:
- Assessing visual acuity in young children (1-4 years) is crucial for early detection of vision impairments.
- The Acuity Card method provides a standardized approach for this age group.
- Establishing normative data is essential for tracking visual development.
Purpose:
- To determine age-specific norms for visual acuity in children aged 1 to 4 years.
- To evaluate the efficacy and reliability of the Acuity Card method for this population.
- To document the developmental trajectory of visual acuity during early childhood.
Summary:
- Visual acuity was assessed in 210 children (1-4 years) using the Acuity Card method.
- Binocular visual acuity improved from 1.8 to 0.9 min arc, and monocular from 1.7 to 1 min arc.
- Adult visual acuity levels were not achieved by age 4; age norms were established.
Impact:
- Provides critical age norms for pediatric ophthalmologists and optometrists.
- Demonstrates the Acuity Card method's high success rate and reliability in young children.
- Facilitates early identification and intervention for visual development delays.
Abstract:
Visual acuity was assessed in 210 children aged 1 to 4 years using the Acuity card method. Visual acuity is expressed in minutes of arc, indicating the minimal angle for separate perception of two lines. Binocular visual acuity showed a gradual growth from 1.8 to 0.9 min, arc and monocular visual acuity from 1.7 to 1 min. arc during this age period. Adult values of 0.65 min. arc(binocular) and 0.70 (monocular) were not yet reached at 4 years of age. Age norms for visual acuity in children from 1 to 4 years of age were determined. The success rate for binocular visual acuity assessment was 99.5% at all ages and increased for monocular acuity assessment from 50% in the 1 to 2 year old to 100% in the 4 year olds. Acuity assessment was fast (test time 3.3 and 2.0 minutes for assessment of binocular and monocular acuity respectively). The inter-observer reliability of the binocular assessment in the same child was high.