Does rate of stimulus presentation affect measured visual field extent in infants and toddlers?

Purpose. To evaluate the effect of stimulus presentation rate on the measurement of visual field extent in infants and toddlers. Methods. Visual field extent was measured for 300 children (N = 60 at 3.5, 7, 11, 17, and 30 months) and 24 adults using hybrid static-kinetic perimetry. Flickering light-emitting diode (LED) stimuli were illuminated sequentially, peripherally to centrally at 10.2°intervals, along 4 diagonal meridia at 2 stimulus presentation rates: 2 s/stimulus (equivalent to 5°/s) and 3 s/stimulus (equivalent to 3°/s). Rate of presentation was a between-subjects variable. Results. No effect of stimulus presentation rate was found for adults. The faster rate of stimulus presentation yielded smaller measured visual field extent for children between the ages of 7 and 30 months. The apparent difference seen with 3.5-month-olds did not reach significance. Conclusions. Faster rates of stimulus presentation may result in underestimation of visual field extent in children between the ages of 7 and 30 months.