An automated method of measuring visual acuity utilizing an electronic visual display comprises the steps of: (a) presenting a fixation target for attracting a subject's attention on said electronic visual display; then (b) presenting a test screen on said electronic visual display, wherein said test screen comprises at least two separate fields, with one of said fields containing a first test pattern and another of said fields containing a control pattern; wherein said test pattern is configured to stimulate eye movement by said subject when said pattern is recognizable by said subject; then (c) detecting whether or not eye movement to said test pattern occurs, the presence of eye movement to said test pattern confirming the discernability of said first test pattern by said subject; and then (d) repeating steps (b) and (c) above with at least one subsequent test pattern, wherein said subsequent test pattern is more difficult to discern than said first test pattern; and then (e) determining said subject's visual acuity from the presence or absence of detected eye movement to said first test pattern and said at least one subsequent test pattern. Methods of measuring peripheral vision and apparatus for carrying out the foregoing methods are also disclosed.
Methods and apparatus for measuring visual acuity in preverbal children