Abstract:

Visual functions, in connection with the co-ordination of upper limbs, play an important role in everyday activities of younger school-aged children. The decreased level of hand-eye co-ordination, caused by impaired visual functions, or more precisely by the motor skills of upper limbs, can negatively affect not only the learning process and sports & physical activities in children, but also their everyday activities.

The objective of our pilot study was to find out how, and to what extent, the quality of chosen visual functions affects the result of a motion task focused on hand-eye co-ordination. The sample group consisted of probands (n = 58) in the age range of 6 to 11 years. This group of probands underwent central visual acuity examination (ETDRS optotypes), “Titmus stereo test” (Vision Assessment Corporation 2012) and sensorimotor test laying high emphasis on co-ordination of upper limbs “Target throw” [11].

For a statistical evaluation of the obtained data, we used the Pearson’s correlation coefficient at a significance level of α = 0.05 (program Statistica 6.0).

Considering the results of correlation analysis, we have concluded that the quality of central visual acuity and stereopsis has a statistically significant effect on upper limb co-ordination of primary school-aged children (rp = 0.486, p = 0.05, resp. rp = 0.459, p = 0.05). The measured data supports both determined hypotheses - H1: “The level of visual acuity has a statistically significant effect on co-ordination of upper limbs in younger school-aged children”, and H2: “The quality of stereopsis has a statistically significant effect on co-ordination of upper limbs in younger school-aged children”.

On the basis of our findings, we recommend putting great emphasis on preventive examination of visual functions as early as in younger school-aged children. Early detection of eye defects, in combination with appropriately selected medical therapy, can minimise, or even completely eliminate, some eye disorders, and give children full-valued lives.

Keywords:

Vision, visus, stereopsis, co-ordination abilities, primary school-aged children.