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Quantification of gaze reaction time in infants with Pediatric Perimeter
Sourav Datta1, Koteswararao Chilakala2, Sandeep Vempati2
1Brien Holden Institute of Optometry and Vision Science, Hyderabad Eye Research Foundation, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.
Insights
Infant gaze reaction time decreases with age, establishing a normative database for the Pediatric Perimeter device. Younger infants (3-5 months) showed longer reaction times and asymmetry for quadrant stimuli.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Vision
Background:
- Establishing normative data for infant visual development is crucial.
- Gaze reaction time is a key indicator of visual processing and neurological maturation.
- The Pediatric Perimeter device aids in assessing infant visual function.
Purpose of the Study:
- Quantify infant eye/head (gaze) reaction time to create a normative database for the Pediatric Perimeter device.
- Test the hypothesis that gaze reaction time decreases with age in infants.
- Investigate age-related changes in visual processing speed.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 121 healthy infants aged 3-10 months.
- Peripheral visual field stimuli presented using the Pediatric Perimeter device.
- Gaze responses recorded in real-time and analyzed offline from video.
Main Results:
- Gaze reaction time was significantly longer in 3-5 month olds compared to older infants, especially for quadrant stimuli (p<0.038).
- A significant asymmetry in reaction time between upper and lower quadrants was observed in 3-5 month olds (p = 0.025).
- Reaction times generally decreased with increasing age across the studied groups.
Conclusions:
- The study provides normative gaze reaction time data for healthy infants.
- Infant gaze reaction time reduces with age, indicating developmental improvements.
- Reaction time asymmetry in quadrant stimuli disappears with age, possibly due to neural maturation or attention.
Purpose:
We quantified the eye/head (gaze) reaction time in infants to establish a normative database for the Pediatric Perimeter device. Additionally, we tested the hypothesis that gaze reaction time will reduce with age.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Healthy infants between 3 to 10 months of age were recruited. Peripheral visual field stimuli (hemifield and quadrant stimuli) were presented in the Pediatric Perimeter device. Infant's gaze to these stimuli was observed, documented in real time, and video recorded for offline analysis.
Results:
A total of 121 infants were tested in three age group bins [3-5 months, n = 44; >5-7 months, n = 30 and >7-10 months, n = 47]. Overall, 3-5 months old had longer reaction time when compared to the older infants particularly for stimuli presented in the quadrants (Kruskal-Wallis, p<0.038). A significantly asymmetric difference (p = 0.025) in reaction time was observed between the upper (median = 820ms, IQR = 659-1093ms) and lower quadrants (median = 601ms, IQR = 540-1052ms) only for the 3-5 months old infants.
Conclusion:
This study provides the normative gaze reaction time of healthy infants. With increase in age, there is reduction in reaction time and disappearance of reaction time asymmetry in quadrant stimuli. The longer reaction time for upward gaze could be due to delayed maturation of neural mechanisms and/or decreased visual attention.
