Testing Babies and Young Children
The Benefits of Using the Frisby Stereotest to Test Young Children and Babies as Young as 6 Months
Early and accurate detection of stereovision is essential in assessing binocular vision development in infants and young children. The Frisby Stereotest is designed to be an effective and child-friendly way to evaluate depth perception without requiring special glasses.
Unlike traditional random dot stereograms, which require patients to wear red/green or polaroid spectacles, the Frisby Stereotest presents real-depth objects using random element patterns while avoiding the typical drawbacks of stereograms. These patterns eliminate monocular cues (such as shadows or contour clues) that could allow a child to ‘guess’ the correct response rather than demonstrating true stereovision.
Using the Frisby Stereotest instead of stereograms with special spectacles offers several key advantages when testing young children:
No Need for Special Glasses – Many young children resist wearing additional spectacles, which can lead to distraction, discomfort, or reduced engagement with the test. The Frisby Stereotest avoids this issue, helping maintain a child's focus and cooperation.
More Natural Observation of Eye Movements – Since no glasses are needed, the practitioner can observe the child’s natural eye movements while they take the test. This is particularly beneficial for non-verbal or very young children, as the examiner can assess where they are looking. This preferential looking behaviour can be a reliable indicator of stereopsis, even before a child can verbally respond or point.
Prevents False Negatives in Fragile Binocular Vision – Some children have fragile binocular single vision, meaning that wearing dissociating glasses (such as those used in other stereotests) can disrupt their normal visual function and produce misleading results. The Frisby Stereotest avoids this issue by maintaining a natural viewing condition.
Improved Hygiene and Safety – Unlike stereotests that require shared glasses between patients, the Frisby Stereotest is contact-free, reducing the risk of cross-contamination or infection transmission. This is especially important in pediatric settings where hygiene is a key concern and in light of increased health awareness following the Covid-19 pandemic.
By making stereovision testing more accessible and reliable for young children, the Frisby Stereotest ensures that potential vision issues are identified early, allowing for timely intervention and management.
