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Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology
Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 11/2007

01-11-2007 | Clinical Investigation

Visual fixation development in children

Authors: Eva Aring, Marita Andersson Grönlund, Ann Hellström, Jan Ygge

Published in: Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology | Issue 11/2007

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Abstract

Background

The ability to keep steady fixation on a target is one of several aspects of good visual function. However, there are few reports on visual fixation during childhood in healthy children.

Methods

An infrared eye-tracking device (Orbit) was used to analyse binocular fixation behaviour in 135 non-clinical participants aged 4–15 years. The children wore goggles and their heads were restrained using a chin and forehead rest, while binocularly fixating a stationary target for 20 s.

Results

The density of fixations around the centre of gravity increased with increasing age (p < 0.01), and the time of fixation without intruding movements increased with increasing age (p = 0.02), while intruding saccades decreased with increasing age (p < 0.01). The number of blinks and drifts did not differ between 4 and 15 years, and there were no significant differences with regard to gender or laterality in any of the investigated variables. No nystagmus was observed.

Conclusion

This study establishes values for visual fixation behaviour in a non-clinical population aged 4–15 years, which can be used for identifying children with fixation abnormalities.
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Metadata
Title
Visual fixation development in children
Authors
Eva Aring
Marita Andersson Grönlund
Ann Hellström
Jan Ygge
Publication date
01-11-2007
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology / Issue 11/2007
Print ISSN: 0721-832X
Electronic ISSN: 1435-702X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0585-6

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