Skip to main content
Log in

Monocular visual form deprivation in human infants

  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A preferential looking technique was used to measure visual acuity in human infants under one year of age who experienced monocular visual form deprivation. Of the 14 cases reviewed, 9 infants had monocular occlusion as therapy for esotropia; 3 infants had unilateral opacities of the ocular media; and 2 infants had unilateral eyelid closure from infection or burns. Despite differences in exact mode of deprivation, the effects on visual acuity were similar. There was a reduction in visual acuity in the deprived eye and a simultaneous increase in acuity of the non-deprived eye. These effects of monocular deprivation were not permanent. Recovery occurred with reverse deprivation or by simple cessation of the deprivation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Arden GB and Barnard WM (1979) Effect of occlusion on the visual evoked response in amblyopia. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 99:419–426

    Google Scholar 

  • Atkinson J and Braddick O (1979) Assessment of vision in infants. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 99:338–343

    Google Scholar 

  • Awaya S, Miyake Y, Imaizumi Y, Shiose Y, Kanda T and Komuro K (1973) Amblyopia in man, suggestive of stimulus deprivation amblyopia. Jap J Ophthal 17:69–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Awaya S, Sugawara J and Miyake S (1979) Observations in patients with occlusion amblyopia. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 99:447–454

    Google Scholar 

  • Calhoun JH (1977) Cutting-aspiration instruments. Int Ophthal Clinics 17:103–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Cook RG and Glasscock RE (1951) Refractive and ocular findings in the newborn. Amer J Ophthal 34:1407–1413

    Google Scholar 

  • Crawford MLJ (1978) Visual deprivation syndrome. Ophthalmology 85:465–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Crewther DP, Crewther SG and Mitchell DE (1981) The efficacy of brief periods of reverse occlusion in promoting recovery from the physiological effects of monocular deprivation in kittens. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 21:357–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Dobson V and Teller DY (1978) Visual acuity in human infants: a review and comparison of behavioral and electrophysiological studies. Vision Res 18:1469–1483

    Google Scholar 

  • Duke-Elder S and Abrams D (1970) Ophthalmic Optics and Refraction. In: (S. Duke-Elder, Ed.) System of Ophthalmology, Vol. 5. London, Kimpton, pp 224–226

    Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM and Rabinowicz IM (1976) Early surgery and visual correction of an infant born with unilateral eye lens opacity. Docum Ophthal 41:371–382

    Google Scholar 

  • Enoch JM, Rabinowicz IM and Campos EC (1979) Post surgical contact lens correction of infants with sensory deprivation amblyopia associated with unilateral congenital cataract. J Jpn CL Soc 21:95–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Giffin F and Mitchell DE (1978) The rate of recovery of vision after early monocular deprivation in kittens. J Physiol 74:511–537

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwiazda J, Brill S, Mohindra I and Held R (1978) Infant visual acuity and its meridional variation. Vision Res 18:1557–1564

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwiazda J, Wolfe JM, Brill S, Mohindra I and Held R (1980-A) Quick assessment of preferential looking acuity in infants. Amer J Optom Physiol Optics 57:420–427

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwiazda J, Brill S, Mohindra I and Held R (1980-B) Preferential looking acuity in infants from two to fifty-eight weeks of age. Amer J Optom Physiol Optics 57:428–432

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartwig H, Haver U, Kanther A and Kaufmann H (1976) Zur Frage der Deprivationsamblyopie. Klin Mbl Augenheilk 168:414–418

    Google Scholar 

  • Hubel DH and Wiesel TN (1977) Functional architecture of macaque monkey visual cortex. Proc Roy Soc Lond B 198:1–59

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SG, Mohindra I and Held R (1981-A) Development of visual acuity in infants with congenital cataracts. Brit J Ophthal 65:727–735

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SG, Mohindra I and Held R (1981-B) Age of onset of amblyopia in infants with esotropia. Docum Ophthal Proc Ser 30:210–216

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SG, Mohindra I and Held R (1982) Visual acuity of infants with ocular diseases. Amer J Ophthal 93:198–209

    Google Scholar 

  • Lehmkuhle S, Kratz KE, Mangel SC and Sherman SM (1980) Effects of early monocular lid suture on spatial and temporal sensitivity of neurons in dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat. J Neurophysiol 43:542–556

    Google Scholar 

  • Lund RD (1978) Environmental influences on visual responsiveness. In: (R.D. Lund, Ed.) Development and Plasticity of the Brain. New York, Oxford University Press, pp 253–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohindra I and Held R (1981) Refractions in humans from birth to five years. Docum Ophthal Proc Ser 28:19–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohindra I, Held R and Jacobson SG (1981) Interocular interaction and superacuity in human infants with monocular visual deprivation. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 20:119

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohindra I, Jacobson SG, Thomas J and Held R (1979) Development of amblyopia in infants. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 99:344–346

    Google Scholar 

  • Mohindra I, Jacobson SG and Held R (1983) Binocular visual form deprivation. Docum Ophthal 55:237–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Movshon JA (1976) Reversal of the physiological effects of monocular deprivation in the kitten's visual cortex. J Physiol 261:125–174

    Google Scholar 

  • Odom JV, Hoyt CS and Marg E (1981) Effect of natural deprivation and unilateral eye patching on visual acuity of infants and children: evoked potential measurements. Arch Ophthal 99:1412–1416

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson CR and Freeman RD (1978) Monocular deprivation and recovery during sensitive period in kittens. J Neurophysiol 41:65–74

    Google Scholar 

  • Olson CR and Freeman RD (1980) Cumulative effect of brief daily periods of monocular vision on kitten striate cortex. Exp Brain Res 38:53–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Schepens CL and Constable IJ (1977) Open sky vitrectomy: operative technique and instrumentation; In: (H.M. Freeman, T. Hirose, C.L. Schepens, eds.) Vitreous Surgery and Advances in Fundus Diagnosis and Treatment. New York, Appleton-Century-Crofts, pp 465–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas J, Mohindra I and Held R (1979) Strabismic amblyopia in infants. Amer J Optom Physiol Optics 56:197–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaegan, Arden GB and Fells P (1981) Amblyopia: some possible relations between experimental models and clinical experience. In: (D. Taylor and K. Wybar, eds.) Paediatric Ophthalmology. New York, Decker

    Google Scholar 

  • Vaegan and Taylor D (1979) Critical period for deprivation amblyopia in children. Trans Ophthal Soc UK 99:432–439

    Google Scholar 

  • von Noorden GK (1981) New clinical aspects of stimulus deprivation amblyopia. Amer J Ophthal 92:416–421

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacobson, S.G., Mohindra, I. & Held, R. Monocular visual form deprivation in human infants. Doc Ophthalmol 55, 199–211 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140809

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00140809

Key words

Navigation