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. 2014 Mar;91(3):351-8.
doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000165.

Stereoacuity of preschool children with and without vision disorders

Elise B Ciner  1 , Gui-Shuang Ying, Marjean Taylor Kulp, Maureen G Maguire, Graham E Quinn, Deborah Orel-Bixler, Lynn A Cyert, Bruce Moore, Jiayan Huang; Vision in Preschoolers Study Group
Collaborators, Affiliations

Stereoacuity of preschool children with and without vision disorders

Elise B Ciner et al. Optom Vis Sci. 2014 Mar.

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate associations between stereoacuity and presence, type, and severity of vision disorders in Head Start preschool children and determine testability and levels of stereoacuity by age in children without vision disorders.

Methods: Stereoacuity of children aged 3 to 5 years (n = 2898) participating in the Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) Study was evaluated using the Stereo Smile II test during a comprehensive vision examination. This test uses a two-alternative forced-choice paradigm with four stereoacuity levels (480 to 60 seconds of arc). Children were classified by the presence (n = 871) or absence (n = 2027) of VIP Study-targeted vision disorders (amblyopia, strabismus, significant refractive error, or unexplained reduced visual acuity), including type and severity. Median stereoacuity between groups and among severity levels of vision disorders was compared using Wilcoxon rank sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests. Testability and stereoacuity levels were determined for children without VIP Study-targeted disorders overall and by age.

Results: Children with VIP Study-targeted vision disorders had significantly worse median stereoacuity than that of children without vision disorders (120 vs. 60 seconds of arc, p < 0.001). Children with the most severe vision disorders had worse stereoacuity than that of children with milder disorders (median 480 vs. 120 seconds of arc, p < 0.001). Among children without vision disorders, testability was 99.6% overall, increasing with age to 100% for 5-year-olds (p = 0.002). Most of the children without vision disorders (88%) had stereoacuity at the two best disparities (60 or 120 seconds of arc); the percentage increasing with age (82% for 3-, 89% for 4-, and 92% for 5-year-olds; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The presence of any VIP Study-targeted vision disorder was associated with significantly worse stereoacuity in preschool children. Severe vision disorders were more likely associated with poorer stereopsis than milder or no vision disorders. Testability was excellent at all ages. These results support the validity of the Stereo Smile II for assessing random-dot stereoacuity in preschool children.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Photo of Stereo Smile II Test.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
A flowchart of the order of testing.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

  • Letter to the editor: stereoacuity of preschool children with and without vision disorders.
    Cooper J, Feldman J. Cooper J, et al. Optom Vis Sci. 2014 Jun;91(6):e156-7. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000276. Optom Vis Sci. 2014. PMID: 24830374 No abstract available.
  • Authors' response.
    Ciner EB, Ying GS, Kulp MT, Maguire MG, Quinn GE, Orel-Bixler D, Cyert LA, Moore B, Huang J; Vision in Preschoolers (VIP) Study Group. Ciner EB, et al. Optom Vis Sci. 2014 Jun;91(6):e157-8. doi: 10.1097/OPX.0000000000000277. Optom Vis Sci. 2014. PMID: 24830375 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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