Visual acuity assessment in children
Diagnostic Intervention
Description/Overview
Visual acuity is defined as the ability to visualise two objects as separate or the resolving power of the eye. It is defined as the smallest object that can be recognised at a particular distance. Visual acuity assessment remains a challenge for the ophthalmologist and needs to be correctly assessed for the early diagnosis of refractive errors, amblyopia, and other ocular pathologies
Indications
Normal visual acuity in various age groups are
At birth - 6/120
4 months-6/60
6 months-6/36
1 year-6/18
2 years- 6/6
Table 1 summarises visual acuity milestones according to age
Visual AcuityAssessment for Various Age Groups
Infants
Optokinetic nystagmus
Catford drum test
Preferential Looking test
Teller's acuity cards
Lea's gratings
Visual evoked potential
1-2 Years
Worth's Ivory ball test
Boeck Candy test
Screening test for young children and retards (STYCAR) test
2-3 years
Cardiff Acuity test
Miniature toy test
Coin test
Lea symbol test
3-5 years
Allen's picture test
Sheridan letter test
Lippmans HOTV
Snellens chart
Tumbling E chart
Landlot C chart