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Biomedical subjects

K Durden

Publications and source records attributed to K Durden.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

Normal emmetropization in infants with spectacle correction for hyperopia.

PURPOSE: The development of emmetropic refraction is known to be under visual control. Does partial spectacle correction of infants' refractive errors, which has been shown to have beneficial effects in reducing strabismus and amblyopia, impede emmetropization? The purpose of the present study was to perform the first longitudinal controlled trial to investigate this question in human subjects. METHODS: Children identified as having significant hyperopia in a population screening program at age 8 to 9 months were assigned to treated (partial spectacle correction) or untreated groups. A control group of infants with no significant refractive errors at screening was also recruited. Measurements of retinoscopic refraction under cycloplegia were taken at 4- to 6-month intervals up to the age of 36 months, and changes in refraction of 148 subjects were analyzed longitudinally. RESULTS: Refractive error decreased toward low hyperopic values between 9 and 36 months in both hyperopic groups. By 36 months, this reduction of hyperopia showed no overall difference between children who were treated with partial spectacle correction and those who were not. Despite the improvement, both hyperopic groups' mean refractive error at 36 months remained higher than that of the control group. When infants in all three groups were considered together, the rate of reduction of refractive error was, on average, a linear function of the initial level of hyperopia. CONCLUSIONS: The benefits of spectacle correction for infants with hyperopia can be achieved without impairing the normal developmental regulation of refraction.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

Reduction of infant myopia: a longitudinal cycloplegic study.

Changes of cycloplegic retinoscopy refraction from 8.5 to 38.5 months of age were compared in two infant groups in the Cambridge population: "infant myopes", having at least one myopic axis (0 to -3.5 D inclusive), and a second, "control" group with low hyperopia (< or = +3.5 D). Cycloplegia eliminated the variable accommodation of infants. The myopic group showed a significant emmetropization of the mean spherical equivalent towards low hyperopia by 3 yr. There was no significant change in the control group's mean spherical equivalent power. Both groups showed a significant reduction in astigmatism with age. Analysis of the vertical and horizontal powers showed significant "emmetropization" of these meridians, in both groups, towards low hyperopia from 8.5 to 38.5 months. These meridional emmetropization changes were significant for both With-the-Rule and Against-the-Rule astigmatism.

Aging↗

Screening for refractive errors in 6-9 month old infants by photorefraction.

The method of isotropic photorefraction has been used in a trial of refractive screening of 6-9 month old infants. Data are presented on the calibration of the method against retinoscopic measurements and its reliability. In photorefractive screening of 1096 infants under cyclopentolate cycloplegia 5% were found to be hypermetropic (over +3.5 D), 4.5% myopic, and 1.3% anisometropic (over 1 D). These refractive errors were confirmed on retinoscopic follow-up (with the exception of a few anisometropes). Follow-up of controls shows that one small refractive error was missed in 52 infants. We conclude that photorefraction is a valid and practical screening technique. Longitudinal study of infants with refractive errors will assess the value of early detection, in particular for prediction and prevention of strabismus.

Adult↗

Transient visually evoked potentials to the pattern reversal and onset of sinusoidal gratings.

Transient visually evoked potentials (VEPs) recorded in response to the contrast reversal and onset of spatially sinusoidal gratings have been investigated. Previous reports of an increase in the latency of the response at higher spatial frequencies have been confirmed but only for spatial frequencies higher than 2 c/deg. At lower spatial frequencies it is suggested that two positive components interact resulting in a departure from a monotonic relationship between latency and spatial frequency. Below 1 c/deg pattern reversal and pattern onset modes of stimulation produced VEPs of similar amplitude and wave form. Above 1 c/deg the amplitude of the pattern onset response peaked at a higher spatial frequency than the response to pattern reversal, and the response was dominated by a negative (N1) rather than a positive component (P1). This distinction has been corroborated by investigating the effect of field size variation. The peak amplitudes shifted to a lower spatial frequency with increase in field size but at all field sizes the N1 component of the pattern onset response peaked at a higher spatial frequency than the other components measured. It is attempted to relate these findings to previous studies of both grating and checkerboard VEPs and to psychophysical studies of contrast sensitivity.

Electroencephalography↗

The visual display terminal issue: a consideration of its physiological, psychological and clinical background.

The publicity which has been given to Visual Display Terminals (VDTs) in recent years has been prompted by initial complaints from operators of visual and postural discomfort. The interest resulting from these complaints has led to much work being carried out on what appeared to be a potentially large problem. This work has precipitated recommendations and specifications from many quarters which in many cases are overcritical and rigid and do not take into account the great flexibility of the visual system and the need for mobility to maintain postural comfort. In this paper the VDT issue is considered with reference to: the known physiology of the visual and postural mechanisms; the psychological factors such as fatigue, boredom, stress and performance of operators; and the clinical aspects of ocular comfort.

Color↗