THE DEVELOPMENT OF VISUAL-ACUITY IN THE PERIPHERAL VISUAL-FIELD OF HUMAN INFANTS - BINOCULAR AND MONOCULAR MEASUREMENTS

We measured binocular and monocular grating acuity in the peripheral v isual field of infants, using a modified preferential looking procedur e. Both binocular and monocular peripheral acuity increased between 2 and 11 months of age, but had not reached adult levels at the end of t he first year of life. Binocular acuity was always higher than monocul ar acuity. At all ages tested, acuity was higher in the temporal than in the nasal visual field. We conclude that, in spite of the relative morphological maturity of the peripheral retina, visual acuity develop s in the peripheral visual field.