Assessment of infant visual function with an automated video-based eye tracking solution

Author(s)

Diego da Silva Lima

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Psicologia (IP/SBD)
• Defense date: 2024-02-19

Examining board members

Dora Selma Fix Ventura; Daniela Maria Oliveira Bonci; Carlos Hitoshi Morimoto; Silvana Alves Pereira; Givago da Silva Souza

• Advisor: Dora Selma Fix Ventura

Abstract

Infant visual assessment is usually performed through the preferential looking technique (PL), in which a trained observer records childrens fixations to stimuli varying in some relevant dimension such as contrast or spatial frequency. Despite the techniques popularity, it presents some limitations, such as not being possible to use blind observers, the variability between examinations from different observers, and the lack of precise control over parameters in stimulus presentation. The main objective of the present work is to develop a software solution to assess grating visual acuity (VA) using videooculography. Children aging between 336 monthsold underwent evaluation of their VA through the proposed procedure and the classical Teller Acuity Cards (TACII) preferential looking procedure. The proposed task consists of the presentation of a grating pattern of variable spatial frequency against a gray background at the left or right side of the screen, randomly, during one second. A total of 38 patients were evaluated successfully with both procedures. The result of the proposed procedure was positively correlated with the TACII procedure ( = 0.25 p = 0.02). A positive relationship between the patients age and the measured acuity value with the eye tracking test was also observed ( = 0.018 decrease in logMAR by month p < 0.001). The mean difference in acuity values measured by the procedures wasnt zero, but of 0.38 logMAR (CI = 0.270.48 logMAR t=7.11 p < 0.0001). Methodological differences such as stimulus presentation time and child engagement with the task might explain the discrepancies. Despite those differences, positive relationships between patient age and measured VA value, as well as between the values measured by both techniques, suggest the test is able to capture VA development dynamics (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 19/12973-0 - Assessment of infant vision using an automated video-based eye tracking solution
• Grantee: Diego da Silva Lima
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate