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Visual field extent in children 3.5-30 months of age tested with a double-arc LED perimeter
V Dobson1, A M Brown, E M Harvey
1Department of Ophthalmology, University of Arizona, Tuscon 85719-3758, USA. vdobson@eyes.arizona.edu
Insights
Kinetic perimetry testing revealed larger visual fields in children, approaching adult levels by 17 months. Static and hybrid methods showed slower visual field development, reaching adult levels by 30 months.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Pediatric Vision
Background:
- Visual field development in children is crucial for cognitive and motor skills.
- Understanding normative visual field extent is essential for identifying potential deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of different visual field testing methods in children.
- To establish normative visual field extents across different age groups in childhood.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 180 normal children (infants and toddlers) and 22 adults.
- Monocular and binocular visual field testing using static, hybrid static-kinetic, and kinetic perimetry.
- Data analysis incorporated corrections for false positives and anticipation errors.
Main Results:
- Kinetic perimetry demonstrated larger, more adult-like visual fields in children, reaching adult levels around 17 months.
- Static and hybrid static-kinetic perimetry yielded smaller visual fields, approaching adult levels by 30 months.
- Age-related visual field expansion was observed across all methods.
Conclusions:
- Kinetic perimetry is a more sensitive method for assessing early visual field development in infants and toddlers.
- Visual field maturation continues through early childhood, with different testing modalities showing varying rates of development.
Abstract:
Visual field extent along the four diagonal meridia was measured cross-sectionally in 180 normal children (infants and toddlers), and 22 adults. Infants were tested monocularly at 3.5, 7, or 9 months, and toddlers were tested binocularly at 11, 17, or 30 months. Adult control data were obtained under monocular viewing. Three testing methods were investigated: static and hybrid static-kinetic perimetry, using LED arrays under computer control, and kinetic perimetry, using white styrofoam spheres manipulated by hand. Data analysis included corrections for false positives in the method of constant stimuli and for errors of anticipation in the ascending method of limits. Across all data sets from children, kinetic perimetry yielded larger, more adult-like fields, which approached adult levels around 17 months, whereas static and hybrid static-kinetic perimetry yielded smaller visual fields, approaching adult levels only at 30 months.