Acuity Cards Research Articles

Correlation of optic nerve on magnetic resonance imaging with visual acuity in children with cerebral visual impairment

Abstract: AIM: The aim of the study was to correlate the optic nerve dimensions at various locations on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with the visual acuity of children with cerebral visual impairment (CVI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 1-year cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital involving 60 children aged 1 to 12 years diagnosed with CVI but without ocular pathologies. Visual acuity was evaluated using teller acuity cards (TACs). MRI of the brain and orbit was performed using three-dimensional high-resolution, volumetric heavily T2-weighted sequences to screen for brain pathologies and measure optic nerve dimensions at two locations. The correlation between visual acuity and optic nerve dimensions was analyzed. The Chi-square test was employed to assess significance using SPSS software. RESULTS: In our study, 64% (n = 38) of the participants were children under 3 years of age. The severity and characteristics of CVI influenced visual functioning at different ages. As children with CVI grew older and moved from Phase I to Phase III, the proportion with very low visual acuity significantly decreased from 85.2% in Phase I to 22.2% in Phase III and from 63.2% in the <3-year age group to 18.2% in more than 5-year age group. No direct correlation was found between optic nerve dimensions and visual acuity but optic disc changes such as optic disc pallor significantly correlated with low visual acuity. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that there may not be a direct correlation between optic nerve dimensions and visual acuity in children with CVI. However, optic disc changes do correlate with visual acuity, but optic disc changes alone are not a criterion for assessing visual function. Additionally, our study highlights the significance of a combined assessment by a neuro- ophthalmologist and neuro-pedaitrician in children with CVI.

Visual Acuity Thresholds in Preterm Newborns: An Experimental Study.

Purpose: Visual acuity plays a role in mediating neurological development in infants by enabling the differentiation of shapes and discriminating objects. Given the rapid structural development of the brain in the first days of life, this aspect is particularly significant for preterm infants, who typically experience this developmental phase while hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Therefore, this study aimed to assess visual acuity thresholds in preterm infants during hospitalization and to evaluate possible correlations between visual acuity and clinical parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an NICU in Northeast Brazil. The visual acuity thresholds were tested using the Teller Acuity Cards II, comprised of 17 gray cards, with one 4 mm diameter peephole at the center and presented with about 35% reflectance. Preterm infants were positioned supine, at 30° elevation on the laps of their caregivers. The evaluator presented both sides of the cards and observed the eye fixation and reactions on both sides. Results: A total of 42 preterm infants with corrected gestational age between 30 to 36 weeks and 6 days were included. Visual acuity ranged from 0.23 to 0.64 cycle per degree. The mean visual acuity threshold was 0.32 cycles per degree for preterm infants at around 32 weeks of corrected gestational age. The visual acuity was not correlated with gestational age (p = 0.18), and neither were birth weight (p = 0.83) or duration of respiratory support (p = 0.98). However, days of phototherapy were inversely correlated with visual acuity (p = 0.04). Conclusions: Despite the challenges of hospitalization, it was possible to carry out a psychophysical test to assess visual acuity in preterm infants. The visual acuity showed no correlation with clinical parameters such as gestational age, birth weight, and duration of respiratory support. However, there was an inverse correlation between the number of days in phototherapy and visual acuity. Understanding the visual acuity levels in preterm infants during their NICU stay can contribute to tailoring interventions and care strategies that specifically address their visual developmental needs. This knowledge may guide healthcare professionals in optimizing the NICU environment to provide appropriate visual stimuli that support neurological development.

NFS-21. DEMOGRAPHIC, CLINICAL AND IMAGING CHARACTERISTICS OF NEWLY DIAGNOSED OPTIC PATHWAY GLIOMAS ASSOCIATED WITH NF1: RESULTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL MULTICENTER NF1-OPG NATURAL HISTORY STUDY

Abstract BACKGROUND Treatment and clinical management decisions for children with NF1-OPGs remain challenging as most existing data are retrospective and have not included standardized visual outcomes. In this study, we prospectively enrolled newly diagnosed NF1-OPGs and performed standardized neuro-oncology and ophthalmology assessments in order to develop evidence-based guidelines for monitoring and treatment. METHODS Children with NF1-OPG on MRI who were evaluated by both a study ophthalmologist and neuro-oncologist/NF1 expert within 1 month of radiologic diagnosis were eligible for enrollment. All subjects attempted quantitative visual acuity using Teller acuity cards (TAC) as well as ATS-HOTV testing. The neuro-oncologist/NF1 expert provided reasons for obtaining the MRI as well as initiating treatment, if applicable. Descriptive statistics calculated the success rate of acquiring TAC and reasons to obtain the MRI. RESULTS Two-hundred fifty subjects from 22 institutions were enrolled and had at least one visit beyond baseline (Median age 3.1 years, range 0.1–16.8; 53% female). TAC was successfully acquired in both eyes (N=195, 78%) and at least one eye in (N=206, 82%). ATS-HOTV was successfully acquired in both eyes (N=97, 39%) and at least one eye in (N=98, 39%). The two most common reasons to obtain an MRI were screening due to a diagnosis of NF1 (N=99, 39%) and ophthalmologic concern (N=81, 32%). At enrollment, continued observation occurred in a majority of subjects (N=221, 88%) while treatment with chemotherapy was initiated in only 11% (N=29). Twenty-nine (11%) subjects initially observed transitioned to treatment after enrollment (range: 2.5–25 months) thus far. DISCUSSION We present a prospective multicenter study of children with newly diagnosed NF1-OPGs. The ability to acquire quantitative visual acuity was higher than anticipated. The frequency of NF1-OPGs requiring treatment is lower than previously reported. Regression models of clinical and MRI features that prompted immediate treatment with chemotherapy versus observation will be discussed.

Early visual intervention, visual function analysis, and grating visual acuity outcomes in children with congenital Zika syndrome.

This study aimed to assess grating visual acuity and functional vision in children with congenital Zika syndrome. Initial and final grating visual acuity was measured using Teller acuity cards. Cerebral vision impairment standardized tests were used to assess functional vision. Patients were referred to the early visual intervention program for visually disabled children. Neuroimaging was performed. In this study, 10 children were included with an age range of 1-37 months. Eight patients presented with macular atrophic scars. Neuroimaging revealed microcephaly and cerebral abnormalities in all patients. Low vision and cerebral vision impairment characteristics were observed in all children. The final grating visual acuity in this group varied from 3.00 to 0.81 logMAR. The grating visual acuity test revealed low vision in all children with congenital Zika syndrome. Functional vision evaluation revealed cerebral vision impairment characteristics in all patients, who were referred to the early visual intervention program. Visual acuity improved in six children.

Comparison of Eye Tracking and Teller Acuity Cards for Visual Acuity Assessment in Pediatric Cortical/Cerebral Visual Impairment

To compare eye tracking and Teller acuity cards (TAC) for assessment of visual acuity in children with cortical, or cerebral, visual impairment (CVI). Reliability and validity study. We recruited 41 children with CVI from a single academic pediatric neuro-ophthalmology clinic. All children performed eye tracking to measure visual acuity, and 26 children completed TAC assessment by a masked examiner. Additionally, 2 pediatric neuro-ophthalmologists graded visual behavior using the 6-level Visual Behavior Scale (VBS). Eye tracking and TAC were performed at baseline and at 1 month. Test-retest reliability of eye tracking and TAC were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Eye tracking and TAC visual acuities were correlated with one another and VBS scores using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Test-retest reliability was excellent for eye tracking measurement of visual acuity (ICC = 0.81, P < .0001). For pediatric CVI, TAC test-retest reliability was fair (ICC = 0.42, P = .04). There was a moderate correlation between eye tracking and TAC (r = 0.43, P = .03) and between TAC and VBS score (r = 0.50, P = .009), and a strong correlation between eye tracking grating acuity and VBS score (r = 0.72, P < .0001). In our cohort of children with CVI, grating acuity measured by eye tracking demonstrated higher test-retest reliability and stronger correlation with pediatric neuro-ophthalmologic assessment of visual behavior than Teller acuity. Objective determination of gaze direction by an eye tracking camera may be more accurate than human assessment in this population. Future research is needed to determine the optimal methods of longitudinal assessment of visual function and functional vision in children with CVI.

Visual Acuity Assessment in Deaf-Mute Children: Identification of Shortcomings and Search for Solutions in the Russian Federation and Some Countries Formerly Part of the Soviet Union – A Narrative Review

The purpose of this narrative review is to study the problems in assessing visual acuity in deaf-mute children. We identified various methods of Visometry, published articles and patents for the inventions based on the assessment of visual acuity in deaf-mute children in the Russian Federation and parts of countries formerly part of the Soviet Union, in order to identify shortcomings and search for solutions. According to the total number of 126 cited scientific papers, the most common methods for assessing visual acuity in deaf–mute patients included Golovin-Sivtsev table (89.1%) and new JEI/JEI technique (8.9%). However, 2% of the doctors used tables of "illiterate" E, Teller Acuity cards with hand gestures, combining Teller Acuity cards with hand gestures to trigger reactions, Lea symbols with visual cues enabling visual cues or pointing to stimulate recognition and Graphic tables with sign language. In the presence of signs of hearing and speech disorders in patients, it is recommended to consider the use of cards duplicating optotypes to the table for assessing visual acuity

Validation of the Waterloo Differential Visual Acuity Test (WatDAT) and Comparison With Existing Pediatric Tests of Visual Acuity.

The new Waterloo Differential Acuity Test (WatDAT) is designed to allow recognition visual acuity (VA) measurement in children before they can typically undertake matching tests. The study purpose was to validate WatDAT in adults with normal and reduced VA. Eighty adults (18 to <40 years of age) participated (32 normal VA, 12 reduced VA, and 36 simulated reduced VA). Monocular VA was measured on two occasions in random order for WatDAT (versions with 3 and 5 distractors for Faces and Patti Pics house among circles), Lea Symbols, Kay Pictures and Patti Pics matching tests, Teller Acuity Cards, Cardiff Acuity Test, and Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter chart. Pediatric tests were validated against ETDRS using limits of agreement (LoA), sensitivity, and specificity. The LoA for repeatability were also determined. WatDAT showed minimal bias compared with ETDRS, and LoAs, which were similar to pediatric matching tests (0.241-0.250). Both preferential looking tests showed higher bias and LoAs than ETDRS. Matching tests showed good agreement with ETDRS, except for Kay Pictures and Lea Uncrowded test, which overestimated VA. WatDAT showed high sensitivity (>0.96) and specificity (>0.79), which improved with criterion adjustment and were significantly higher than for the preferential looking tests. LoA for repeatability for WatDAT 3 Faces and WatDAT 5 Faces were comparable with the ETDRS. WatDAT demonstrates good agreement and repeatability compared with the gold-standard ETDRS letter chart, and performed better than preferential looking tests, the alternative until a child can undertake a matching VA test. Good validity of the Waterloo Differential Acuity Test was demonstrated in adults as a first step to showing its potential for detecting childhood visual disorders.

Association between prenatal exposure to trace elements mixture and visual acuity in infants: A prospective birth cohort study

BackgroundPrenatal environmental factors may affect the development of the offspring and can bring long lasting consequences to the offspring's health. To date, only few studies have reported inconclusive association between prenatal single trace element exposure and visual acuity, and no studies have investigated the association between prenatal exposure to trace elements mixture and visual acuity in infants. MethodsIn the prospective cohort study, grating acuity in infants (12 ± 1 months) was measured by Teller Acuity Cards II. Concentrations of 20 trace elements in maternal urine samples collected in early-trimester were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Elastic net regression (ENET) was applied to select important trace elements. Nonlinear associations of the trace elements levels with abnormal grating were explored using the restricted cubic spline (RCS) method. The associations between selected individual elements and abnormal grating acuity were further appraised using the logistic regression model. Then Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) was used to estimate the joint effects of mixture and interactions between trace elements combining with NLinteraction. ResultsOf 932 mother-infant pairs, 70 infants had abnormal grating acuity. The ENET model produced 8 trace elements with non-zero coefficients, including cadmium, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, rubidium, antimony, tin and titanium. RCS analyses identified no nonlinear associations of the 8 elements with abnormal grating acuity. The single-exposure analyses using logistic regression revealed that prenatal molybdenum exposure possessed a significantly positive association with abnormal grating acuity (odds ratio [OR]: 1.44 per IQR increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05, 1.96; P = 0.023), while prenatal nickel exposure presented with a significantly inverse association with abnormal grating acuity (OR: 0.64 per IQR increase, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.89; P = 0.009). Similar effects were also observed in BKMR models. Moreover, the BKMR models and NLinteraction method identified potential interaction between molybdenum and nickel. ConclusionsWe established that prenatal exposure to high concentration of molybdenum and low concentration of nickel was associated with the increased risk of abnormal visual acuity. Potential interaction may exist between molybdenum and nickel on abnormal visual acuity.

An Automated Method for Assessing Visual Acuity in Infants and Toddlers Using an Eye-Tracking System.

Visual acuity measurement is an important visual function test to perform in infancy and childhood. However, accurate visual acuity measurement in infants is difficult because of deficiencies in their communication ability. This paper presents a novel automated method to assess visual acuity in children (5-36 months old). This method, the automated acuity card procedure (AACP), uses a webcam for eye tracking and recognizes children's watching behaviors automatically. A two-choice preferential-looking test is performed when the tested child watches the visual stimuli shown on a high-resolution digital display screen. When the tested child watches the stimuli, their facial pictures are recorded by the webcam. These pictures are used by the set computer program to analyze their watching behavior. With this procedure, the child's eye movement responses to different stimuli are measured, and their visual acuity is assessed without communication. By comparing the results with grating acuity obtained by Teller Acuity Cards (TACs), AACP performance is deemed comparable to that of TACs.

CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF SURGERY FOR ADVANCED STAGE RETINOPATHY OF PREMATURITY: A CASE REPORT

Introduction: Advanced stages of Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) could lead to childhood blindness and retinal surgery is needed as the main treatment. This case aims to report the clinical outcomes after surgery for advanced-stage ROP&#x0D; Case Report: A female infant was admitted to the pediatric ophthalmology clinic in Cipto Mangunkusumo National Central Hospital Jakarta with a lack of visual contact in both eyes at 53 weeks of Post Menstrual Age (PMA). The infant was delivered at 28 weeks of gestational age with a birth weight of 1100 g. The baby was treated in NICU for 24 days and received oxygen therapy in the previous hospital. Retinal examination revealed that the patient had stage 5 ROP in the right eye and stage 4B ROP in the left eye. Furthermore, blinking reflect was absent in both eyes. Vitrectomy and endolaser were performed for the baby’s left eye. Surgery was not conducted for the infant’s right eye due to poor prognosis. Six weeks after surgery, the infant underwent examination under anesthesia (EUA) which showed that the retina was reattached with no vitreous hemorrhage, and intraocular pressure measurement was 7 mmHg. The result of the visual acuity test by Cardiff Acuity Cards was 6/60 on both eyes. Followed up EUA reported that the refraction test result on the left eye was S-3.75 C-5.75 x 85o and an undetermined result on the right eye due to opacity in the visual axis.&#x0D; Discussion: Several surgeries have been described as the treatment of choice for advanced-stage ROP, including scleral buckling and vitrectomy with or without the addition of endolaser. Previous studies illustrated that stage 5 ROP has a low success rate on lens-sparing vitrectomy compared to stage 4A and 4B. The outcome success rate was the best in stage 4A ROP. Moreover, stage 4B ROP had a moderate success rate with sufficient visual outcomes.&#x0D; Conclusion: The functional outcome of vitrectomy surgery may not equate to anatomic success. Retinal reattachment and moderate visual outcome were achieved by performing vitrectomy and endolaser in this case. Followed-up periodically is necessary for advanced stage ROP postoperatively.

Visual Acuity alterations in heavily impaired Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) children.

This study aimed to assess visual acuity (VA) in Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS)-children to evaluate visual loss. To that end we evaluated 41 CZS - children, from Rio de Janeiro using Teller Acuity Cards. To asses VA, we evaluated 41 CZS - children, from Rio de Janeiro using Teller Acuity Cards. The children had Zika virus-infection confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or clinical evaluation. In 39 out of 41 (95%) children, the VA scores were below normative values, while in 10 cases, VA was only marginally below normal; in the remaining 29 cases, VA was more than 0.15 logMAR below the lower limit. There was no correlation between VA and the cognitive domain tasks, although there was a correlation between VA and motor domain tasks. Thirty-seven children performed at least one task in the cognitive set, while fourteen children did not perform any task in the motor set. Children with VA above the lower limit performed better in the cognitive and motor tasks. We concluded that ZIKV- infected children with CZS were highly VA impaired which correlated with motor performance, but not with cognitive performance. Part of the children had VA within the normal limits and displayed better performance in the cognitive and motor sets. Therefore, even if heavily impaired, most children had some degree of VA and visual function.

Automated assessment of grating acuity in infants and toddlers using an eye-tracking system.

The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of testing binocular visual acuity using the automated acuity card procedure (AACP)-a new automated method that uses an eye-tracking system. We included participants aged 5 to 36 months old. Binocular grating acuity was tested using the AACP and Teller Acuity Cards (TACs) with a uniform testing distance (55 cm) in random order. Electronic stimuli in the AACP were similar in size and form to TACII and roughly equivalent to the printed TACII stimuli. The AACP tracked the participant's gaze from the recorded image sequences and automatically determined the grating acuity. Differentiation, correlation, and consistency were compared between the AACP and TACs. Ultimately, 77.11% (155/201) of participants completed both tests. Fewer participants failed the TAC test than the AACP (15 [7.46%] vs. 31 [15.42%]). The average duration of the AACP (median interquartile range [IQR] = 60 [IQR = 41] seconds) was significantly shorter than that of the TAC (median [IQR], 185 [IQR = 66] seconds, p < 0.001). AACP and TAC visual acuities were robustly correlated (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Bland-Altman plots revealed a mean difference between AACP and TAC visual acuities of 0.10 cycles per degree (cpd; 95% limits of agreement = 7.70 cpd). Both the AACP and TACs indicated improved visual acuity with age progression (both, p < 0.001), with no significant differences between the tests. Electronic stimuli were presented using the AACP yielded clinically useful data on grating acuity in infants and toddlers. AACP performance was comparable to that of TACs, the current clinical gold standard for assessing infant vision regarding testability, reliability, and accuracy.

Relationship between the Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire and psychophysical measures of visual acuity and chromaticity discrimination in older visually impaired children

The Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ) is an instrument to measure the impact of visual impairment in children and their families. It can be used as a research tool to verify the effectiveness of treatment, therapy, and different methods for visual stimulation and rehabilitation. The aim of this study is to describe the relationship between General Health, General Vision Health, Personality, Family Impact, and Treatment – subscales of the CVFQ and psychophysical measures of visual acuity (VA) and chromaticity discrimination (CV). This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the Sensory Psychophysiology Laboratory – University of São Paulo in partnership with the Ambulatory of Visual Stimulation in the Sector of Low Vision and Visual Rehabilitation – Federal University of São Paulo. The children who participated in this study were divided into two groups: study group (SG), composed of 11 children with a diagnosis of visual impairment and mean age of 55.36 months ( SD = 16.88), and control group (CG), composed of 8 children with normal vision and mean age of 64.87 months ( SD = 13.22). Both groups underwent the application of CVFQ, were tested for VA using the Teller Acuity Cards (TAC) test, and CV using the Cambridge Colour Test program for children (CCT Kids). The result of applying the CVFQ to groups of children over 3 years, comparing SG and CG, differences were observed in the following subscales: General Vision Health ( F = 10.00, p &lt; .001); Competence ( F = 7.03, p = .030); Personality ( F = 6.48, p = .010); Total Quality of Life ( F = 11.39, p = .010). These differences show a worse score for the SG. In the VA test using TAC, the data collected in groups of children over 3 years, comparing SG and CG, differences were observed in VA RE ( F = 19.25, p &lt; .001); VA LE ( F = 25.99, p &lt; .001); VA BE ( F = 15.45, p &lt; .001). These differences show worse scores for the SG. In the CV using the CCT Kids, the data collected in groups of children over 3 years, comparing SG and CG, no statistically significant differences for protan, tritan, and deutan groups were observed. For the SG, while for children over 3 years, correlations were found for General Vision Health, Competence, Family Impact, and General Quality of Life. We conclude that there are statistically significant differences when comparing the SG with the CG for the visual function of visual acuity and chromaticity discrimination, and we also demonstrated the sensitivity in the use of CVFQ in reflect VA and CV impairments.

The consistency of visual acuity measurement using PEEK acuity and Snellen-E performed by trained teachers in elementary school students

Background: Visual impairment in children affects growth and development, psychological, social, daily activities, which reduce the quality of life. Children often don't realize that they see "lack of" and do not complain of any difficulty in seeing. Collaboration between medical and non-medical personnel could be developed as a tiered health service team. Teachers as educators could help the health service team through health education and eye screening. The purpose of this study was to find out the consistency of visual acuity measurements by trained teachers using PPEK acuity and Snellen-E.Methods: This study is an analytic cross sectional study conducted on 178 samples in elementary school. Visual acuity was measured by trained teachers using PEEK Acuity and Snellen-E cards and ETDRS by an ophthalmologist. Data analysis using Bland Altman and Rank-Spearman correlation test.Results : Mean difference in visual acuity measurement with PEEK Acuity by trained teacher and ETDRS by ophthalmologist are 0,0028 logMAR (p = 0,543; 95% CI -0,0063 – 0,0119; 95% limit of agreement -0,11766 - 0,12326). Mean difference in visual acuity measurement with Snellen-E by trained teacher and ETDRS by ophthalmologist shows 0,0090 logMAR (p = 0,103; 95% CI -0.0018 – 0.0198; 95% limit of agreement -0.13426 – 0.15225). Mean difference in visual acuity measurement with PEEK Acuity and Snellen-E by trained teacher shows -0,0062 logMAR (p = 0.248; 95% CI -0,0175– 0,0052; 95% limit of agreement -0,15667 – 0,144269).Conclusion: Visual acuity measurement using PEEK Acuity and Snellen-E by trained teachers and ETDRS by an ophthalmologist are consistent and could replace each other.

Test-retest Repeatability of the Ohio Contrast Cards.

The Ohio Contrast Cards are a repeatable test of contrast sensitivity, and they reveal higher contrast sensitivity for low-vision patients than is shown by the Pelli-Robson chart. This study aimed to compare the contrast sensitivity results and test/retest ±limits of agreement for the Ohio Contrast Cards and the Pelli-Robson letter contrast sensitivity chart on two challenging groups of participants, and to compare the Ohio Contrast Card results with grating acuity and the Pelli-Robson results with letter acuity. The Ohio Contrast Card and Pelli-Robson tests were each performed twice by two different examiners within one visit on 40 elder patients in Primary Vision Care (>65 years old) and 23 to 27 low-vision school-aged students. Grating acuity was measured using the Teller Acuity Cards (all participants), and letter acuity was measured using ClearChart (elders) or the Bailey-Lovie chart (students). The ±95% limits of agreement were similar for the Ohio Contrast Cards and the Pelli-Robson chart. The elders' limits of agreement were ±0.27 (Ohio Contrast Cards) and ±0.28 (Pelli-Robson); the students' limits of agreement were ±0.42 (Ohio Contrast Cards) and ±0.51 (Pelli-Robson). However, Ohio Contrast Card results were 0.41 log10 Michelson units more sensitive than the Pelli-Robson chart (over one line on the Pelli-Robson chart) for the elders and 0.90 log10 Michelson units (three lines on the Pelli-Robson chart) more sensitive for the elders (0.11 and 0.6 log10 Weber units, respectively). The Pelli-Robson results were correlated with letter acuities and Ohio Contrast Card results for both groups, and the Ohio Contrast Card results were correlated with Teller Acuity Card acuities for the elders. The Ohio Contrast Cards and Pelli-Robson chart are similarly repeatable. Both contrast sensitivity tests can provide additional clinical information that is not available through visual acuity testing, and Ohio Contrast Card may provide additional information not available from the Pelli-Robson chart.

Evaluating Contrast Sensitivity in Asian Indian Pre-Term Infants With and Without Retinopathy of Prematurity.

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the contrast threshold in Asian Indian preterm infants with and without retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) using Newborn Contrast Cards measured during the first ROP screening and to correlate with final outcome and visual acuity at 3 months of corrected age.MethodsPreterm infants born ≤ 2000 grams birth weight (BW) and/or ≤ 34 weeks gestational age (GA) undergoing ROP screening were enrolled prospectively. Visual acuity was recorded using Teller Acuity Cards. Contrast threshold was measured with Newborn Contrast Cards at first screening visit and at the end of ROP screening at 40 weeks of postmenstrual age or older.ResultsOf the 173 study infants, 134 (77.5%) did not have any stage of ROP. Of the remaining 39 (22.5%), 34 (87%) had type 2 ROP and 5 (13%) had type 1 ROP requiring treatment. The mean contrast threshold at the first visit of the no ROP type 1 and type 2 groups was 0.36 ± 0.07, 0.65 ± 0.19, and 0.46 ± 0.09, respectively (P < 0.001). Contrast threshold had a significant correlation with BW (R = −0.291, P = < 0.001) and gestational age (R = −0.47, P = < 0.001). The contrast threshold at the first visit correlated with visual acuity measured at 3 months of corrected age in logMAR (R = 0.36, P = 0.01). Other than BW and GA, no other systemic risk factors correlated with contrast threshold measured at the first screening visit.ConclusionsNewborn Contrast Cards are a viable tool to test contrast threshold in preterm infants. The association between contrast threshold and ROP, and its correlation with visual acuity, suggest that contrast threshold measurement may help predict the clinical vision outcome among prematurely born infants.Translational RelevanceContrast threshold measurement may prove to be a useful tool in the estimation of visual potential in preterm infants.

Penetrating Keratoplasty in Infants With Peters Anomaly: Visual and Graft Outcomes.

To determine the prevalence of survival of corneal grafts and visual outcomes of primary penetrating keratoplasty (PK) in infants with Peters anomaly (PA) in Beijing, China. Twenty-nine patients (37 eyes) with PA who underwent PK before the age of 1 year were included. Optical correction for all eyes and occlusion therapy of amblyopia for a unilateral opacity were performed 2 weeks after suture removal. All infants underwent assessment of visual acuity after surgery using Teller Acuity Cards. Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test. Visual outcomes and prognosis factors were analyzed using the χ2 test. The mean age of 29 infants undergoing primary PK was 5.7 ± 2.3 months. The mean follow-up duration was 18.0 ± 3.0 months. Twenty-seven (73.0%) of 37 grafts retained full clarity at final follow-up. Visual acuity above ambulatory was achieved in 67.6% (25/37) and >20/260 was achieved in 48.6% (18/37) of cases. Of all surgical indications, vascularized PA I (50.0%, 6/12) and PA II (18.2%, 2/11) showed a lower proportion achieving visual acuity >20/260 than nonvascularized PA I (71.4%, 10/14) (P = 0.030 < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of graft survival and vision outcome between infants younger than 6 months and older than >6 months. For infants with PA who underwent PK, the prevalence of graft survival and visual acuity were related mainly to the indication. The main risk factors were corneal vascularization and an abnormal lens.

Cognitive, motor, and visual development in healthy children in the first 42 months of life.

The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-Third Edition (Bayley-III) is a tool for measuring the developmental status of children, including cognitive and motor functioning, in the first three years of life. This study aims to evaluate the correlation between grating visual acuity and visual functionality in healthy children using the Bayley-III. Binocular grating visual acuity was measured using Teller Acuity Cards followed by the Bayley-III in healthy children aged 1-42 months. Visual acuity (logMAR) and Bayley-III scores for both cognitive and motor (gross and fine) skills were compared. Forty children (20 boys) aged 1.2-42.1 months were tested. Their mean visual acuity was 0.39 ± 0.27 logMAR, which was within the normal age limits for all children. There was a strong and significant negative correlation between visual acuity and age (r=-0.83, p<0.001). The mean cognitive raw data score was 49.92 ± 18.93 points, with a strong and significant positive correlation between cognitive score and age (r=0.81, p<0.001). The mean gross motor score was 41.72 ± 16.23 points, with a strong and significant positive correlation between gross motor score and age (r=0.75, p<0.001). The mean fine motor score was 39.75 ± 14.63 points, with a strong and significant positive correlation between fine motor score and age (r=0.77, p<0.001). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that older age and better visual acuity were significantly associated with higher Bayley-III scores. This study found a high correlation between grating visual acuity measured using Teller Acuity Cards and cognitive and motor scores measured using the Bayley-III in healthy children, demonstrating that the Bayley-III might be a useful tool for assessing the repercussions of visual impairment on the cognitive and motor development of young children.

Study to establish visual acuity norms with Teller Acuity Cards II for infants from southern China

ObjectivesTo establish the norms of binocular and monocular acuity and interocular acuity differences for southern Chinese infants and compare these norms with the results for northern Chinese infants.MethodsA prospective, comparative, and noninterventional study was conducted from January to August 2018. Teller Acuity Cards II were used to determine the binocular and monocular acuity of infants. The tolerance intervals and limits with a stated proportion and probability were used to evaluate the norms of binocular and monocular acuity and interocular acuity differences. An unpaired t-test was used to compare the obtained norms with the reported northern Chinese norms.ResultsThe tolerance intervals of binocular acuity (mean acuity of 3.73, 7.35, and 12.01 cpd, respectively, at 12, 24, and 36 months), monocular acuity (mean acuity of 2.88, 6.91, and 10.75 cpd, respectively, at 12, 24, and 36 months), and interocular acuity differences (mean difference of 0.92, 2.89, and 3.99 cpd, respectively, at 12, 24, and 36 months) were obtained, exhibiting an increasing trend with age. The binocular visual acuity norms of southern Chinese infants were significantly lower than those in northern China (4.37 vs. 6.9 cpd at 8 months and 7.35 vs. 26 cpd at 24 months) (P = 0.011).ConclusionsNorthern and southern Chinese infants exhibited distinct acuity norms and visual development patterns. The establishment of population-specific visual acuity norms is necessary for current populations of infants from different regions.

Too Many Shades of Grey: Photometrically and Spectrally Mismatched Targets and Backgrounds in Printed Acuity Tests for Infants and Young Children.

PurposeAcuity tests for infants and young children use preferential looking methods that require a perceptual match of brightness and color between grey background and target spatial average. As a first step in exploring this matching, this article measures photometric and colorimetric matches in these acuity tests.MethodsThe luminance, uniformity, contrast, and color spectra of Teller Acuity Cards, Keeler Acuity Cards for Infants, and Lea Paddles under ambient, warm, and cold lighting, and of grey-emulating patterns on four digital displays, were measured. Five normal adults’ acuities were tested at 10 m observationally.ResultsLuminance and spectral mismatches between target and background were found for the printed tests (Weber contrasts of 0.3% [Teller Acuity Cards], −1.7% [Keeler Acuity Cards for Infants], and −26% [Lea Paddles]). Lighting condition had little effect on contrast, and all printed tests and digital displays met established adult test luminance and uniformity standards. Digital display grey backgrounds had very similar luminance and color whether generated by a checkerboard, vertical grating, or horizontal grating. Improbably good psychophysical acuities (better than −0.300 logMAR: (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution)) were recorded from adults using the printed tests at 10 m, but not using the digital test Peekaboo Vision.ConclusionsPerceptible contrast between target and background could lead to an incorrectly measured, excessively good acuity. It is not clear whether the luminance and spectral contrasts described here have clinically meaningful consequences for the target patient group, but they may be avoidable using digital tests.Translational RelevanceCurrent clinical infant acuity tests present photometric mismatches that may return inaccurate testing results.