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Percentile curves of stereacuity in a Spanish paediatric population
Borja Navas-Navia1, Laura Garcia-Montero1, Belén Pérez-Sanchez2
1Department of Ophthalmology, Rey Juan Carlos University Hospital, Móstoles, Madrid.
Insights
This study established stereoacuity percentile curves for Spanish children aged 3-12. Findings show visual development approaches adult levels by age 4 years 9 months, aiding pediatric eye assessments.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Vision Science
Background:
- Stereoacuity is crucial for binocular vision development.
- Establishing normative data is essential for identifying visual impairments in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To create percentile curves for stereoacuity in a Spanish pediatric population (ages 3-12).
- To provide reference data for assessing binocular vision development.
Main Methods:
- A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study.
- 1300 children aged 3-12 without ocular/systemic diseases were included.
- Stereoacuity was measured using the Bueno-Matilla Vision Unit random dot test.
Main Results:
- Percentile curves for stereoacuity (in arc seconds) were generated.
- By 4 years 9 months, 50th percentile stereoacuity approached adult levels (approx. 28 arc seconds).
- Stereoacuity improved progressively, reaching 19 arc seconds before age 6 and stabilizing by age 7.
Conclusions:
- The developed percentile curves can assist pediatric professionals in evaluating visual development.
- These curves are indicators of binocular vision status in children.
- While sampling was specific, the data offers valuable clinical insights.
Objective:
The main objective of this study was to obtain percentile curves of stereoacuity in arc seconds for a Spanish population aged between three and twelve years of age.
Materials And Methods:
A descriptive, observational and transversal study was conducted, which included children aged between three and twelve years of age who did not present with any known ocular and/or systemic diseases. The convenience sampling method was used to select the sample from three schools and one hospital in the Community of Madrid. The Bueno-Matilla Vision Unit's random dot test was used to measure stereoacuity. A descriptive statistic was performed with the stereoacuity values that were obtained for the 5th, 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th percentiles.
Results:
The stereoacuity values of 1300 children were analysed. In the 50th percentile curve, it was determined that stereoacuity values close to 40 sec/arc were present from four years of age, and at four years and nine months, stereoacuity values close to 28 sec/arc were already being observed within said percentile, with values that were similar to those expected in the adult population. A progressive increase was observed, reaching 19 sec/arc before six years of age, with this stereoacuity value becoming more established in children from seven years of age.
Conclusion:
Although given the specific type of sampling that was performed it was not possible to generalise the results to the entire population, these percentile curves may aid paediatric professionals in their assessment of the development of this visual ability, which is indicative of the degree of development of binocular vision.
