Binocular visual acuity of neonates: the acuity card procedure

The acuity card procedure is a variant of the forced-choice preferential looking technique. In this study, four observers each tested 10 infants (all healthy fullterm neonates) with acuity cards containing either a one-aperture or a two-aperture stimulus configuration. For both card types the mean test time was eight minutes. No effect on acuity results was found between the two different configurations. The mean acuity values were within one octave of those reported in most previous behavioral studies of the acuity of neonates. The authors consider that the acuity card procedure provides a rapid, accurate technique for assessment of healthy newborn infants in a hospital setting.