THE MATURATION OF LINEAR ACUITY AND COMPLIANCE WITH THE SONKSEN-SILVER ACUITY SYSTEM IN YOUNG-CHILDREN

The compliance and maturation of visual acuity of 1245 2 1/2- to nine- year-olds was investigated. Testing was undertaken as part of routine surveillance. Ability to letter match, to achieve a binocular measure and to achieve monocular measures for children under three years was 8 9, 78 and 37 per cent, for children aged three to four years 97, 91 an d 66 per cent, and for children over four years 99.9, 99.9 and 99, res pectively. A statistical model was developed to give acuity norms by a ge for use by surveillance and diagnostic teams.