Course of Development of Global Hyperacuity Over Lifespan

Abstract

Purpose Global visual integration is fundamental to shape and face recognition. While the maturation of local visual function, such as resolution acuity, has been well documented, less is known about the changes in global visual function during development and with aging. Methods Two hundred thirty-six normal subjects, ranging in age from 0.25 to 78 years old, participated the study. Global hyperacuity (detection threshold for radial deformation) was obtained from 300 eyes using either a computerized testing or a chart testing protocol and spatial forced choice (preferential-looking for < 2.6 yr old, pointing for young children, or verbal response for older children and adults). Resolution acuity was also measured. The developmental courses for global hyperacuity and resolution acuity were fit to a 3-segment curve to capture the initial rapid development, followed by a period of stable, adult-level visual function and, finally, the decline in visual function with aging. Results Curve fitting revealed that global hyperacuity was 0.25 logMAR at 0.25 yrs of age, and improved rapidly to -0.56 logMAR at 5.4 yrs of age but did not reach the mean adult level (-0.86 logMAR) until 21 yrs of age. Global hyperacuity started to deteriorate from 55 yrs of age at the rate of 0.035 logMAR per decade. In comparison, resolution acuity reached 0.0 logMAR at 5 yrs of age, and reached the adult level of -0.1 logMAR at 11 yrs of age. Resolution acuity also started to decrease from 55 yrs of age at the rate of 0.058 logMAR per decade. Conclusions Similar to vernier alignment acuity, global hyperacuity improves rapidly during infancy and early childhood but takes longer to reach the adult level than resolution acuity. The delayed maturation of global hyperacuity suggests that further development to refine neural circuitry at the cortical level takes place in the second decade of life.

Abnormal Radial Deformation Hyperacuity in Children with Strabismic Amblyopia

“…11,[13][14][15] The radial deformation task has been adapted to a forced-choice preferential looking paradigm and used to document the rapid improvement of hyperacuity during the first year of life. 16,17 The rate of radial deformation hyperacuity maturation is similar to that reported with more traditional hyperacuity stimuli. 16 Adults with strabismic amblyopia have severe deficits in radial deformation hyperacuity in the amblyopic eye compared to the fellow eye.…”

“…26,27 Wang et al 17 report the development and course of global hyperacuity from infancy to aging. The normative data presented in this study for early childhood through teenage years agrees well with these previous reports.…”

“…We have already demonstrated that radial deformation hyperacuity can be measured using forced-choice preferential looking in this age range. 16,17 Here, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity of the radial deformation shape discrimination task for strabismic amblyopia. Because there is no gold standard for strabismic amblyopia in children ,3 years of age, we evaluated the sensitivity and specificity in strabismic children between the ages of 3 and 17 years using optotype visual acuity as the gold standard.…”

In Vivo Foveal Development Using Optical Coherence Tomography

“…Visual functions, such as hyperacuity, continue to develop until 21 years of age. 20 Although this has been attributed to refinement of neural circuitry at the cortical level, it is possible that ongoing retinal development during this period also may be contributing to this process.…”

“…12,13,18,19 In contrast, it has been shown that visual functions increase until adulthood, which has been attributed to maturation of the visual cortex. 20 The aim of this study was to determine the developmental time course and trajectories for each retinal layer at the fovea and define the contribution of each retinal layer to the development of normal vision in full-term infants and young children using HH-SDOCT.…”