Biomedical subjects

Sarah E Morale

Publications and source records attributed to Sarah E Morale.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Measurement of stereoacuity outcomes at ages 1 to 24 months: Randot Stereocards.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to develop a simple, quick, and portable random dot stereoacuity test for measurement of binocular sensory outcomes during the first 24 months of life. METHODS: Vertical bar random dot vectographs were adapted for presentation in a "Teller Acuity Card" format, called the "Randot Stereocards." A forced-choice preferential looking protocol was used. Study participants included 386 healthy, term infants and children (normative cohort; age range: 1 month to 8 years) and 280 patients with common pediatric ophthalmic disorders (patient cohort; age range: 5 months to 9 years). RESULTS: Overall, the success rate for test completion in the normative cohort was 91.3%. By 4 months of age, normal infants' mean stereoacuity was about 600'' and, by 6 months, 200''. Mean stereoacuity further improved to about 100'' by 12 months and 70'' by 18 months. Normative results were similar to published data obtained with laboratory-based stereoacuity tests. Randot Stereocard data from normal children aged 2 to 6 years were similar to published normative data for the Preschool Randot Stereoacuity Test. In the patient cohort, concordance between the Randot Stereocards and the Preschool Randot Test was 87%; concordance between the Randot Stereocards and the Randot Test was 84%. CONCLUSION: The Randot Stereocards provide a simple, reliable, and valid method of obtaining a quantitative assessment of binocular vision in children up to 24 months of age for use in clinical trials and in clinical management.

Child↗

PubMed2005

Risk factors for accommodative esotropia among hypermetropic children.

PURPOSE: Identification of risk factors for accommodative esotropia may help to determine which children with hyperopia may benefit from early spectacle correction or preventive therapy. METHODS: Participants in the family history study were 95 consecutive patients, aged 18 to 60 months, with accommodative esotropia. Participants in the binocular sensory function study were a subgroup of 41 children enrolled in the family history study within 1 month of onset, while the esodeviation was still intermittent. Participants in the hypermetropia study were 345 consecutive patients, ages 12 months to 8 years, with refractive error of +2.00 D or greater and no esodeviation before age 12 months. RESULTS: In the family history study, 23% of children with accommodative esotropia had an affected first-degree relative, and 91% had at least one affected relative. In the binocular sensory function study, random-dot stereoacuity was abnormal in 41% of children, whereas an abnormal motion VEP, Worth 4-dot, or positive 4-PD base-out prism responses were present in 4% or less of the children. In the hypermetropia study, patients with a mean spherical equivalent of < +3.00 D and significant anisometropia had a 7.8-fold increased risk for accommodative esotropia over nonanisometropic patients. CONCLUSIONS: A positive family history, subnormal random-dot stereopsis, and hypermetropic anisometropia each pose a significant risk for the development of accommodative esotropia. Assessment of these risk factors in conjunction with refractive screening should help to identify those children who are most likely to benefit from early spectacle correction or preventive treatment.

Accommodation, Ocular↗

PubMed2004

Duration of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids availability in the diet and visual acuity.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the critical period during which the dietary supply of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) may influence the maturation of visual cortical function in term infants. AIM: To define the relationship between duration of dietary LCPUFA supply and visual acuity at 52 weeks of age. STUDY DESIGN: Data from 243 infants who participated in four randomized clinical trials of LCPUFA supplementation of infant formula at a single research center were combined. The primary outcome was visual acuity at 52 weeks of age as measured by swept visual evoked potentials (sweep VEP). RESULTS: Longer duration of LCPUFA supply was associated with better mean acuity at 52 weeks of age (r=-0.878; p<0.001). The relationship between duration of dietary LCPUFA supply and sweep VEP acuity at 52 weeks was similar whether the LCPUFAs were provided via formula containing 0.36% DHA and 0.72% ARA or human milk. Duration of breast-feeding was associated with individual infants' sweep VEP acuity outcomes at 52 weeks (r=-0.286; p<0.005). The duration of LCPUFA supply during infancy has a similar relationship to sweep VEP acuity at 52 weeks in breastfed infants regardless of birth order. CONCLUSION: A continued benefit from a supply of LCPUFAs is apparent in infants through 52 weeks of age, suggesting that the brain may not have sufficient stores of LCPUFAs from an early postnatal supply to support the optimal maturation of the visual cortex.

Evoked Potentials, Visual↗

PubMed2004

Maturation of visual acuity is accelerated in breast-fed term infants fed baby food containing DHA-enriched egg yolk.

Between 6 and 12 mo of age, blood levels of the (n-3) long-chain PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in breast-fed infants typically decrease due to diminished maternal DHA stores and the introduction of DHA-poor solid foods displacing human milk as the primary source of nutrition. Thus, we utilized a randomized, clinical trial format to evaluate the effect of supplemental DHA in solid foods on visual development of breast-fed infants with the primary outcome, sweep visual-evoked potential (VEP) acuity, as an index for maturation of the retina and visual cortex. At 6 mo of age, breast-fed infants were randomly assigned to receive 1 jar (113 g)/d of baby food containing egg yolk enriched with DHA (115 mg DHA/100 g food; n = 25) or control baby food (0 mg DHA; n = 26). Gravimetric measures were used to estimate the supplemental DHA intake which was 83 mg DHA/d in the supplemented group and 0 mg/d in controls. Although many infants in both groups continued to breast-feed for a mean of 9 mo, RBC DHA levels decreased significantly between 6 and 12 mo (from 3.8 to 3.0 g/100 g total fatty acids) in control infants, whereas RBC DHA levels increased by 34% from 4.1 to 5.5 g/100 g by 12 mo in supplemented infants. VEP acuity at 6 mo was 0.49 logMAR (minimum angle of resolution) and improved to 0.29 logMAR by 12 mo in controls. In DHA-supplemented infants, VEP acuity was 0.48 logMAR at 6 mo and matured to 0.14 logMAR at 12 mo (1.5 lines on the eye chart better than controls). At 12 mo, the difference corresponded to 1.5 lines on the eye chart. RBC DHA levels and VEP acuity at 12 mo were correlated (r = -0.50; P = 0.0002), supporting the need of an adequate dietary supply of DHA throughout 1 y of life for neural development.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed2002

Preschool Worth 4-Shape test: testability, reliability, and validity.

PURPOSE: The Worth 4-Dot is used to assess binocular fusion, but it is difficult to use with young children. We modified the Worth 4-Dot by replacing the circles with shapes while maintaining the same color configuration. The purpose of this study was to determine the testability, reliability, and validity of the Worth 4-Shape test. METHODS: Subjects aged 2 to 8 years and 4 patients aged over 8 years with best-corrected visual acuity of 20/40 or greater (n = 131 patients, n = 123 normals) attempted test and retest at 35 cm and 3m using the Worth 4-Shape and Worth 4-Dot. To provide a gold standard, medical history, bifoveal fixation, and stereoacuity were reviewed. RESULTS: Testability of the Worth 4-Shape was significantly higher than the Worth 4-Dot both in children aged less than 4 years (95.9% vs 79.5% at 35 cm, P <.001; 79.5% vs 55.1% at 3 m, P <.001) and older than 4 years (98.5% vs 88.6% at 35 cm, P <.001; 90.9% vs 82.4% at 3m, P =.04). Test-retest analysis found comparable concordance for the Worth 4-Shape and Worth 4-Dot tests (P >.3). The sensitivity and specificity of the Worth 4-Shape (92%, 97%) and Worth 4-Dot (90%, 94%) were comparable. Between-test analysis found 96% agreement between both tests at 35 cm and 97% agreement at 3m. CONCLUSIONS: The success rate for the Worth 4-Shape is higher than the Worth 4-Dot, especially in children aged less than 4 years, and has equivalent accuracy. The Worth 4-Shape test-retest reliability is high supporting its validity for use with young children.

Child↗