Purpose: While near stereoacuity is thought to develop entirely during childhood, few reports have examined the age limit for the development of distance stereoacuity. We investigated the possible correlations between distance stereoacuity and age and differences with near stereoacuity in subjects aged 19 years or younger.
Subjects and methods: The subjects, comprising 770 children aged 6-19 years, had best corrected visual acuity of 1.2 or above in both eyes and no strabismus. Near stereoacuity was measured with the Titmus stereo test, and distance stereoacuity was measured with the System Chart NIDEK SC-1600 Pola. We compared near and distance stereoacuity and also examined possible correlations with age.
Results: Among the subjects aged 6-14 years, while the results were significantly poorer for those with distance stereoacuity than for those with near stereoacuity (p<0.01), no significant difference was noted among the subjects aged 15-19 years. In the subjects aged 6-14 years, a negative correlation was noted between distance stereoacuity and age (r=-0.3, p<0.05), whereas in the subjects aged 15-19 years, no significant correlation was observed. In the subjects aged 6-14 years, a negative correlation was observed with age for differences between near and distance stereoacuity (r=-0.3, p<0.01).
Conclusion: As the difference between near and distance stereoacuity decreased with increasing age, our results suggested that distance stereoacuity develops later than near stereoacuity and that its development might be completed at around 14 years of age.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 125: 9-15, 2021.