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Kinetic perimetry assessment of binocular visual field shape and size in young infants
T L Schwartz1, V Dobson, D J Sandstrom
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Insights
Neonates have larger visual fields than older infants, though both groups have smaller fields than adults. Visual field shape remains consistent across infant ages and adults.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
Background:
- Assessing infant visual development is crucial for early detection of visual impairments.
- Understanding the normative development of the binocular visual field in infants provides a baseline for clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure the extent of the binocular visual field in full-term infants at different early developmental stages.
- To compare infant visual field development with adult norms.
Main Methods:
- Kinetic perimetry was employed to assess the binocular visual field across 8 directions.
- The study involved 77 full-term infants tested at neonatal, 4-week, and 8-week-old stages.
- A 4-arm arc perimeter with stationary and moving white spheres was utilized.
Main Results:
- Neonates demonstrated larger visual fields compared to 4- and 8-week-old infants.
- Infants across all tested ages exhibited significantly smaller visual fields than adults.
- The overall shape of the visual field was comparable between infants and adults.
Conclusions:
- Infant visual field extent changes within the first 8 weeks of life, with neonates showing a wider field.
- Fixation strength may influence visual field measurements in older infants.
- Despite differences in extent, the fundamental visual field shape is established early in development.
Abstract:
Kinetic perimetry was used to measure the extent of the binocular visual field in 8 directions in 77 full-term infants tested as neonates, 4-week-olds, or 8-week-olds. The apparatus consisted of a black, 4-arm arc perimeter, a centrally-located 6-deg stationary white sphere, and an identical sphere that served as the peripheral target. Neonates showed larger visual fields than did 4- and 8-week-olds, perhaps due to the strength of the older infants' fixation of the central target. Infants at all ages showed significantly smaller fields than did adults. However, visual field shape was similar in infants and adults.