[Objective determination of visual acuity. Improvement of an infrared nystagmography method and comparison with pattern visual evoked potentials].

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to optimize a new nystagmographical method of objective assessment of visual acuity and compare it to an electrophysiological method.

METHODS

In the nystagmographical method motionless brake marks were superimposed on a moving grating pattern, causing suppression of optokinetic nystagmus (OKN). The smallest brake mark that interrupted the OKN was taken as an objective measure for visual acuity (VA). In the electrophysiological method rapid sequences of high-contrast checkerboard patterns of different spatial frequency were presented in a pattern on-off mode in a foveal field. The VEP response function was extrapolated to 0 microV. The objective values of 94 healthy eyes with artificially reduced vision (VA 0.05-2.0) and 314 eyes with pathological reduction of VA due to different etiologies were compared. RESULTS. The selectivity of the nystagmographical method could be improved. With the exception of strabismic amblyopia, the results were closely correlated with the VA. The least VA could be estimated in steps of 0.06, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 and 0.8.

CONCLUSIONS

The new nystagmographical method yields useful information about the least VA if strabismic amblyopia is excluded.