Comparison of grating and Vernier acuity in infants with developmental delay.
BACKGROUND
Grating acuity measured by Teller cards is mildly reduced in children with developmental delay. Vernier acuity, the ability to detect offsets, also can be measured, but has not been studied in children with developmental delay.


METHODS
In a prospective cross-sectional pilot study, 12 nonverbal children with developmental delay established by pediatric assessment of developmental milestones were tested binocularly with vernier and Teller cards. Ages ranged from 4 to 24 months. Vernier offsets ranged from 2 to 64 minutes of arc.


RESULTS
All children were testable with Teller acuity cards. Binocular grating acuity ranged from 1.7 to 7.4 cpd (median, 1.0 octaves below normal). Binocular vernier acuity ranged from unrecordable to 8 minutes of arc (median, "unrecordable"). Only four of the 12 children demonstrated a measurable vernier acuity. Normal children of this age have a vernier acuity of 2 to 16 minutes of arc measured by this technique.


CONCLUSIONS
The response to vernier acuity cards appears to be more severely degraded by developmental delay than the response to Teller cards.
Holmes
J M
JM
Department of Ophthalmology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University, Maywood, Ill., USA.
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014792:Visual Acuity