[The relationship between the developmental change in visual acuity measurements and change of refractive error in young infants].

219 normal infants aged 3 to 36 months were tested to investigate the relationship between the development of visual acuity and the change of refractive error. 17 infants were tested over a period of time. Visual acuity was assessed by Teller Acuity Cards (TAC), and refractive error was measured by an infrared video refractor (PR1000) without cycloplegics. The results were as follows. 1) The success rate of both tests in 3 to 6 month-old infants was higher than in infants aged 11 to 14 months and 23 to 36 months. 2) Visual acuity showed a rather slow development in infants aged 3 to 12 months. 3) With-the-rule astigmatism of 1 diopter (D) or more occurred with a high incidence in the 3 to 8 month old infants, and decreased with age. 4) The visual acuity in the infants with astigmatism was no different than in those without it. 5) The slow developmental curve of visual acuity measured in 3 to 12-month old infants was probably the result of psychological aversion to the TAC.