HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (8) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fawcett, S. L. Articles by Birch, E. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fawcett, S. L. Articles by Birch, E. E.

The Critical Period for Susceptibility of Human Stereopsis

From the Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas; and the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.

PURPOSE. To define the critical period for susceptibility of human stereopsis to an anomalous binocular visual experience.

METHODS. Random dot stereoacuity was measured in 152 children with a history of onset of either infantile or accommodative strabismus before 5 years of age. In each of these populations and in the combined population, the critical periods for susceptibility of stereopsis are described using four-parameter developmental weighting functions.

RESULTS. In children with infantile strabismus, the critical period for susceptibility of stereopsis begins at 2.4 months and peaks at 4.3 months. In children with accommodative esotropia, the critical period for susceptibility of stereopsis begins at 10.8 months and peaks at 20 months. When the data are combined across the two populations, the critical period begins soon after birth and peaks sharply at 3.5 months but shows continued susceptibility to at least 4.6 years.

CONCLUSIONS. An anomalous binocular visual experience during early infancy severely disrupts stereopsis, yet the critical period for susceptibility of stereopsis extends through late infancy and early childhood and continues to at least 4.6 years of age.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y Watanabe, T Kezuka, K Harasawa, M Usui, H Yaguchi, and S Shioiri A new method for assessing motion-in-depth perception in strabismic patients Br. J. Ophthalmol., January 1, 2008; 92(1): 47 - 50. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Brodsky and K. J. Fray Does Infantile Esotropia Arise From a Dissociated Deviation? Arch Ophthalmol, December 1, 2007; 125(12): 1703 - 1706. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. P. Donahue Pediatric Strabismus N. Engl. J. Med., March 8, 2007; 356(10): 1040 - 1047. [Full Text] [PDF]