Abstract

The Visual Evoked Potential (VEP) has been used by a number of investigators for non-invasive assessment of the development of visual acuity in human infants. In all these studies, visual acuity develops to near adult levels during the first year of life. Close inspection of these growth curves reveals an interesting difference in the apparent rate of acuity development during the first year. Data from studies which have used the pattern onset/offset mode of stimulus presentation (Marg et. al., 1976; de Vries-Khoe and Spekreijse, 1982) indicate that acuity develops rapidly at a rate of 0.5 octaves/month from an initial level of 1 to 2 c/deg. Our studies using the contrast reversal presentation mode (Norcia and Tyler, in press) indicate a growth rate of only 0.25 octaves/month, but from an initially higher level -- around 4 to 5 c/deg. We thus decided to test the same infants on the two different acuity tasks. A difference between the two presentation modes would have important implications for the choice of the best presentation mode for use in clinical testing, as well as for theories of acuity development.

© 1986 Optical Society of America