Abnormal development of visual function following intrauterine growth retardation.

Vernier acuity was measured at 40 weeks post term in 18 infants born with symmetric intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and 32 normal (N) infants. Grating acuity was also measured in 12 IUGR and 26 N infants. The mean vernier detection threshold (V.min) was 0.4 octaves higher in the IUGR than in the N infants (P less than 0.04). The mean grating detection threshold (S.min) was 0.2 octaves lower in the IUGR infants (NS). The mean ratio of S.min to V.min was significantly lower in the IUGR infants (1.5 IUGR, 2.7 N, P less than 0.05). V.min was significantly negatively correlated with the head circumference of the IUGR infants at 40 weeks post term. Vernier acuity depends on visual processing at a cortical level. The normal grating acuity in the IUGR infants implies that cortical, rather than optical or retinal factors, underlie the reduced vernier acuity (high V.min). We suggest that the cortical representation of visual space is affected by IUGR.