Visual Development: Acuity functions and contrast sensitivity in babies

This book deals with the development of the nervous system through assessments of the visual system in the first years of life. It is well known that the visual world of a newborn is considerably different and very impoverished compared to that of an adult. Basic visual functions such as visual acuity and contrast sensitivity are immature at birth, but undergo major changes during childhood, and based on this, the authors analyzed the visual behavior of babies born prematurely and at term. Prematurity at birth is a risk factor for vision and we don't know if babies born prematurely, even with apparently normal visual development, actually follow the same course as that observed in babies born after a full gestation, or if they also suffer some damage due to prematurity. Alternatively, these babies could have an accelerated development due to their longer exposure to the visual world. To find out whether the condition of prematurity accelerates, delays or does not alter the development of vision, this book invites the reader to delve into this incredible world of nervous system development.