Results of children color vision evaluation using different approaches
Authors:   A.A. Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, Rychkova S.I. ,   Medico-biological University of Innovation and Continuing Education of Russian State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Likhvantseva V.G. ,   Academy of Postgraduate Education of the Federal Scientific and Clinical Center for Specialized Medical Assistance and Medical Technologies of Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia, Moscow, Russian Federation,   Russian State Research Center – Burnasyan Federal Medical Biophysical Center of Federal Medical Biological Agency, Moscow, Russian Federation, Sandimirov R.I. ,   N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation
Published: October 2023

Purpose. To evaluate the results of color vision functions using different methods in amblyopic children and in children of the control group. Material and methods. We observed 81 school children: 1) 35 amblyopic children 2) 46 children of the control group without amblyopia. The color vision was explored using classic tests (polychromatic Rabkin tables and Neitz-test) and our own test images (Patent RU 2760085 dated 02/04/2021). Results. In the control group normal trichromasia was detected in 38 (82.6%) children using all three methods. In the rest of the cases using Rabkin tables revealed difficulties in defining shapes of the test figures in some tables in four (8.7%) children. Nevertheless, the children could name the colors of separate circles composing the images correctly. Using Neitz-test revealed difficulties in 6 (13%) children. Using our own developed tests revealed no difficulties in children of the control group. In the group of amblyopic children normal trichromasia of both eyes was detected only in 12 (34,3%) children using all three methods. Using Rabkin tables, Neitz-test and our own developed tests detected protanopia combined with deuteranopia in two boys under conditions of observing the best seeing eye and the worst seeing eye. Using the same tests detected less expressed disturbances of perception red and green colors in two girls. Nine (25.7%) children could name the colors of separate circles correctly but had difficulties in defining shapes of the test figures in some Rabkin tables. Accomplishing Neitz-test 15 (42.9%) children named the colors of all test figures correctly but made mistakes defining their shapes. Conclusion. Exploring color vision in children using Rabkin tables and Neitz-test it is necessary to consider that these tests make an observed child accomplish two tasks simultaneously – distinguishing the color and defining the shape. Usually, it does not cause any difficulties in a healthy school child. But under conditions of amblyopia the mechanism of integrating the information of the colour and the shape into a united visual image may be disturbed. It complicates the correct accomplishing the test and may cause mistakes in a doctor's interpretation of a patient's answers. Our developed test images do not require defining the chromatic form. It allows them to reflect a child's ability to distinguish a chromatic image from achromatic images of the same brightness and the ability to distinguish shades of basic tones at different degrees of their saturation. Besides, the advantages of the method are simplicity of accomplishing, minimal amount of time necessary for observation and availability for a child's comprehension which make it look promising for using at outpatient admissions in children of different ages. Key words: amblyopia, color vision, diagnostic methods of color vision