Visual pathway abnormalities in albinism and infantile nystagmus: VECPs and stereoacuity measurements

The visual pathway of albinos is characterized by abnormal optic nerve fiber decussation with increased contralateral projection. This results in hemispheric asymmetry of monocular visually evoked cortical potentials (VECPs) and may be related to lack of stereopsis. Flash VECP, Random Dot E (RDE), and Titmus stereotest data were collected from 40 nystagmus patients, 19 albino and 21 with normal pigmentation. Data were compared with results obtained from 19 race- and age-matched normal subjects. All albino patients demonstrated hemispheric VECP asymmetries exceeding +/- 2.0 standard deviations from the normal mean, showing either delayed ipsilateral P latency (88%), reduced ipsilateral P amplitude (59%), or both (47%). None of the normally pigmented infantile nystagmus patients exceeded this criteria on either VECP measure. While only one albinotic patient showed positive RDE and stereofly results, 86% of normally pigmented nystagmus patients passed the stereofly test, 60% demonstrated 400 sec (Titmus) stereopsis, and 66% showed positive RDE results. These findings reveal that normally pigmented infantile nystagmus patients have variable degrees of stereopsis and no excessive abnormalities of optic nerve fiber decussation as evidenced by flash VECP. Additionally, this study verifies visual pathway abnormalities and the lack of stereopsis in albino nystagmus patients.