Using eye movements to measure vision in children

If eye problems occur in early childhood, they can affect the development of the brain areas that are responsible for sight and cause lifelong visual impairment. In addition, vision problems can affect the development of fine control over arm and hand movements and, in older children, impact on education. Many of the eye problems that affect young children can be treated effectively, however detecting these problems is challenging. Young children find it difficult to complete standard tests of vision because these tests require high levels of attention. Many tests also involve recognising shapes and letters and are therefore not suitable for young children. To address this problem we are developing a new computer-based vision test suitable for use with children as young as 2-years old. The test is simple and easy to use; carefully designed moving patterns are shown to the child that causes a reflexive, involuntary movement of the eyes if the child is able to see the pattern (which thereby yields a measure of visual performance). At the same time we record the movement of the eyes with a video camera attached to a computer and the software we are developing will identify whether the child is able to see the pattern or not. Finally, the visibility of the pattern will be varied to measure how well the child can see. In this project, we will develop and perform clinical validation tests in ophthalmology and optometry clinics in New Zealand and the USA. The overall aim of this research is to validate a device that we envisage could be used to rapidly and accurately test visual acuity in young children to allow for the early detection and treatment of vision problems. We propose here to conduct data collection of OKN eye movement using our prototype system developed from our own research to date. This study will involve three clinical sites: (1) the University of Auckland Optometry research clinic, (2) a private ophthalmology clinic (Eye Doctors, Ascot Hospital) led by co-investigator and ophthalmologist Dr Shuan Dai and his research assistant (orthoptist, Nia Stonex), and (3) the Retina Foundation of the Southwest (a non-profit eye research institute in Texas, USA) led by co-investigator Prof. Eileen Birch and her research team.