Normative Values of Saccades and Smooth Pursuit in Children Aged 5 to 17 Years

Abstract

Background: Pediatric oculomotor function can be evaluated via videonystagmography. Adult normativedata for saccades and smooth pursuit tests cannot be used as a benchmark for pediatric patientsbecause children’s peripheral and central systems continue to mature throughout adolescence.<br />Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish normative data for saccade and smooth pursuit teststhat can be used clinically in the assessment of vestibular and neurological disorders in children, and toinvestigate the effect of age and eye movement direction (left/right) on tests parameters.<br />Research Design: The present study is prospective cross-sectional study.<br />Study Sample: A total of 120 healthy children were recruited and equally distributed according to ageand gender to each of the following groups: 5–8, 9–11, 12–14, and 15–17 years old. Participants had topass a comprehensive otological and neurological assessment prior to inclusion in the study. Each subjectunderwent saccade and smooth pursuit testing.<br />Data Collection and Analysis: Saccade latency, velocity and accuracy/precision, and smooth pursuitgain were analyzed across groups using a two-way repeated measure multivariate analysis of variance(MANOVA).<br />Results: Saccadic latency was longer in the youngest group aged 5–8 years old (305 ± 48 msec) incomparison to children aged 9–11 years old (276 ± 22 msec) (P = 0.017), 12–14 years old (252 ± 34 msec) (P = 0.001) adolescents 15–17 years (256 ± 33 msec) (P = 0.001). Age did not affect theresults of saccadic velocity and accuracy/precision. Saccade parameters (latency, velocity, accuracy/precision) were not affected by oculomotor direction (left vs. right). Smooth pursuit gain increased from0.63 in children aged 5–8 years old to 0.85 in children aged 15–17 years (P = 0.0001). The percentage ofgain asymmetry was significantly different in the youngest two groups.<br />Conclusion: Saccade latency decreased as age increased. Smooth pursuit gains increased with increasedage. Saccade velocity and accuracy/precision did not change significantly from ages 5–8 to15–17 years of age. These data provide normative values for pediatric oculomotor evaluation and suggestthat saccade and pursuit pathways may mature at different rates.<br />