Abstract
Purpose. To determine if spectacle corrected and uncorrected astigmats show reduced performance on visual motor and perceptual tasks. Methods. Third through 8th grade students were assigned to the low refractive error control group (astigmatism < 1.00 D, myopia < 0.75 D, hyperopia < 2.50 D, and anisometropia < 1.50 D) or bilateral astigmatism group (right and left eye ≥ 1.00 D) based on cycloplegic refraction. Students completed the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI) and Visual Perception (VMIp). Astigmats were randomly assigned to testing with/without correction and control group was tested uncorrected. Analyses compared VMI and VMIp scores for corrected and uncorrected astigmats to the control group. Results. The sample included 333 students (control group 170, astigmats tested with correction 75, and astigmats tested uncorrected 88). Mean VMI score in corrected astigmats did not differ from the control group (p = 0.829). Uncorrected astigmats had lower VMI scores than the control group (p = 0.038) and corrected astigmats (p = 0.007). Mean VMIp scores for uncorrected (p = 0.209) and corrected astigmats (p = 0.124) did not differ from the control group. Uncorrected astigmats had lower mean scores than the corrected astigmats (p = 0.003). Conclusions. Uncorrected astigmatism influences visual motor and perceptual task performance. Previously spectacle treated astigmats do not show developmental deficits on visual motor or perceptual tasks when tested with correction.
Highlights
Astigmatic blur in early childhood can result in reduced visual performance as well as poor visual development (e.g., poor visual acuity that persists when spectacles are worn) [1]
Post hoc analyses indicated that the control group did not significantly differ from the uncorrected astigmatic group (p = 0.209) or the corrected astigmatic group (p = 0.124)
Post hoc analyses indicated that the corrected astigmatic group performed significantly better than the control group (p = 0.013)
Summary
Astigmatic blur in early childhood can result in reduced visual performance (e.g., poor visual acuity when spectacles are not worn) as well as poor visual development (e.g., poor visual acuity that persists when spectacles are worn (astigmatism-related amblyopia)) [1]. Reduced performance was observed for children in the hyperopic group when tested at ages 3.5 and 5.5 years, even though children who remained significantly hyperopic wore spectacles for testing. This effect persisted when amblyopic, strabismic, and preterm children were excluded. Roch-Levecq et al [7] reported that uncorrected bilaterally ametropic (hyperopic and/or astigmatic) preschoolers had reduced scores on the BeeryBuktenica Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration (VMI) [8] compared to emmetropic preschoolers. Orlansky et al reported lower scores on several measures of academic readiness
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
