Oftalmología

In adults, visual acuity is measured with lines of letters. The SVEP measures acuity by assessing the response of brain waves to moving black and white stripes. The SVEP acuity test is, perhaps, most helpful in those youngsters for whom behavioral measures (Preferential Looking) give ambiguous or incomplete information about visual acuity.

The vision of the stripes is passed from the eye and along the visual pathways to the visual part of the brain. The SVEP is designed to find the finest black and white stripes that produce a reliable response.

For the test, small metal discs, about the diameter of the tip of the little finger, are placed on the head. The discs are connected to a computer by fine cables. The discs are held in place by a paste like toothpaste. Three discs are placed at the back of the head, one disc is placed on top of the head and one is placed on the forehead. A band is wrapped around the child's head to hold the electrodes in place during the test.