The development of infantile nystagmus.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain quantitative measurements of the development of infantile nystagmus in children. This task is challenging because the eye movement recording requires some cooperation.


METHODS
The oscillations in short duration eye movement recordings were identified by the method of close returns and the characteristics of the saccadic main sequence were used to calibrate the oscillations. These techniques were applied to 11 subjects, aged 0-4 years, who were all tested on more than one occasion.


RESULTS
The range of waveforms could be described by a sum of asymmetric pendular and pseudocycloid components. The amplitude of the nystagmus decreased from 0 to 1.5 years and then increased again. The foveation associated with the nystagmus increased up to 1.5 years and then remained approximately constant. The average visual acuity of the subjects increased steadily from 0 to 4 years.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings imply that developmental waveform changes are associated with improved visual acuity but only until 1.5-2 years of age.
Paediatric Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK Visual Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
Maria
M
Theodorou
Mathematics and Physical Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK.
Richard
R
Clement
Visual Sciences Unit, Institute of Child Health, London, UK.
David
D
Taylor
Paediatric Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, UK.
Anthony
A
Moore
D002675:Child, Preschool; D053483:Eye Movement Measurements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D020417:Nystagmus, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012438:Saccades / Q000502:physiology*; D015348:Vision, Binocular; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*
Child health (paediatrics); Vision