Development of the Eye Motor System During the First 7 Months of Life in Infants With and Without a Family History of Cross-Eye
Development of the Eye Motor System During the First 7 Months of Life in Infants With and Without a Family History of Cross-Eye
Little is known about the development of the ocular, or eye, motor system (the parts of the
 brain that control how the eyes move) in children. Recent technological and methodological
 advances now enable researchers to investigate the visual system and ocular motor system of
 infants, but few findings have been reported. This study hypothesizes that quantitative
 analysis of "at-risk" infants' eye movement systems can detect abnormalities that precede and
 predict the onset of strabismus, or cross-eye.

 We will collect data on the eye movements of a group of infants born between 36 and 44 weeks
 after conception. These infants will be enrolled between 4 and 24 weeks after birth and
 followed at 4-week (+/- 5 days) intervals until 28 weeks of age and then once a year until 3
 years after birth. The infants will undergo a complete ophthalmic evaluation at each visit
 after they enroll. At all visits up to 28 weeks of age, they will also undergo analysis of
 eye movements. We also will monitor the development of ocular alignment and check to detect
 other visual system abnormalities. The study will provide basic knowledge about the cause of
 both normal and abnormal alignment of both eyes in infants in the first 28 weeks of life.
Little is known about the development of the ocular motor system in children. We hypothesize
 that quantitative analysis of "at risk" infants eye movement systems can detect abnormalities
 that precede and predict the onset of strabismus. We will collect data on the eye movements
 of a group of infants born between 36 and 44 weeks of post-conceptual age. These infants are
 enrolled between 4 and 24 weeks after birth and followed at 4 week (+/-5 days) intervals
 until 28 weeks of age and then yearly until 3 years after birth. After study enrollment
 infants will undergo a complete ophthalmic evaluation and ocular motor analysis at all study
 visits. The ocular motor analysis will include evaluation of ocular following, saccadic,
 pursuit and vergence eye movements using stimulus paradigms that have been specially
 developed for use in children. Children will be followed on an annual basis after 28 weeks of
 age until age 3 years to monitor the development of ocular alignment and to detect other
 visual system abnormalities. Study endpoints for each subject are at 28 weeks of age (ocular
 motor recordings completed) and 3 years of age (ophthalmic examinations completed). This will
 provide basic knowledge regarding the etiology of both normal and abnormal binocular
 alignment in infants in the first 28 weeks of life.
Participants must have a gestational age at birth between 36-42 weeks and birth weight
 greater than or equal to 2500 gms.

 Participants must have normal growth and development as assessed by general pediatric
 examination and growth charts, obtained historically from family and/or pediatrician.

 Participants must have a normal visual system by ophthalmic examination.

 Participants must be between the post-conceptual ages of 40 weeks and 70 weeks of age
 inclusive.

 Participants must be able to undergo a complete opthalmic evaluation.

 Participants must be able to undergo standard eye movement recording.

 Participants must not have any eye diseases.

 Participants must not have any neurologic disease, developmental delay, congenital genetic
 syndromes, congenital organ malformations, malformation syndromes or metabolic diseases.

 Participants must not be on any systemic or ocular medications.