Abstract

It is evident from animal deprivation studies that a number of physiological and anatomical changes occur in the visual cortex after birth, and that a normal "visual diet" is a prerequisite to a final mature level of functioning. Certain alterations in this normal visual diet will lead to irreparable damage in the cortical neural connections. A new importance has been attached to the intervention and treatment of early visual problems, primarily because of the proliferation of basic research studies on visual development. Eye care specialists dealing with pediatric patients have recognized the importance as well as feasibility of early evaluation of visual processing abilities and the benefits of early intervention. Qualitative judgment of fixation was, at one time, the only available measure of visual functioning in nonverbal patients. Now, however, quantitative measures of visual acuity using either behavioral or electrophysiological protocols are becoming more prevalent in clinical settings.

© 1991 Optical Society of America