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Visual acuity of the Gidra in lowland Papua New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

T. Kawabe ,
R. Ohtsuka ,
T. Inaoka ,
T. Akimichi  and
T. Suzuki
T. Kawabe
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
R. Ohtsuka
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
T. Inaoka
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
T. Akimichi
Affiliation:
National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan
T. Suzuki
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
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Summary

Visual acuity was tested and the anterior portion of the eye inspected among the Gidra in Lowland Papua New Guinea, who depend on hunting for their animal food. The visual acuity of the youths and adults was as high as that of hunters and gatherers; 88% of the males and 81% of the females had an acuity of 1·2 or better. The elders had far lower acuity, correlated with the advance of cataract (or corneal opacity). The senescent visual acuity is discussed in relation to little practice and low productivity of the elders' hunting, and to the Gidra traditional age-grade system.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 1985 , pp. 361 - 370
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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