Checklist for the evaluation of low vision in uncooperative patients.

PURPOSE: To present a checklist for the evaluation of low vision in uncooperative patients; in this specific case, children with neurological deficits.

METHOD: The checklist includes several behavioral indicators obtainable with a standard clinical examination. Each test is assigned a score (0=failure, 1=success). The final visual quotient score is obtained by dividing the partial score by the total number of tests performed. Eleven children with cerebral visual impairment were studied using behavioral and preferential looking techniques.

RESULTS

Visual quotient was >0 in all patients, indicating that residual visual function was always detectable. Average visual quotient was 0.74.

CONCLUSION

Visual quotient can be useful both for follow-up examinations and comparison and integration with other evaluation methods (behavioral and instrumental) of residual visual capacity. In particular, if combined with preferential looking techniques, visual quotient testing permits characterization of the entire spectrum of low vision.