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A normative study of step vergence in elementary schoolchildren
M Scheiman1, H Herzberg, K Frantz
1Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Philadelphia 19141.
Journal of the American Optometric Association
|April 1, 1989
Summary
This study provides step vergence norms for children aged 6-12, crucial for assessing binocular vision. Findings reveal age-specific differences, recommending lower norms for 6-year-olds.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Vision Science
Background:
- Normative data for step vergence testing in children aged 6-12 are lacking.
- Accurate assessment of binocular vision in children is essential for early detection of visual disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To establish normative data for base-in and base-out step vergence in children aged 6-12 years.
- To compare these findings with existing adult normative data.
- To provide clinical tools for assessing disparity vergence ranges in young children.
Main Methods:
- Step vergence testing using prism bars was conducted on 386 elementary schoolchildren (aged 6-12) who passed a Modified Clinical Technique (MCT) screening.
- A novel polarized target was employed to detect suppression, diplopia, or blur.
- Data were collected for both base-in and base-out vergence conditions.
Main Results:
- Significant differences were observed between the normative data for children and previously reported adult data.
- Data for 6-year-old children differed notably from the older children in the study group.
- The developed polarized target effectively identified visual anomalies during testing.
Conclusions:
- The study provides the first normative data for step vergence testing in children aged 6-12.
- Lower normative values are recommended for 6-year-olds due to observed differences.
- These findings offer valuable clinical insights for assessing binocular vision in pediatric populations outside of a phoropter.