EVALUATION OF STEREOVISION FINDINGS USING THE TITMUS TEST IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH REFRACTIVE ERRORS

The purpose of the study: to evaluate the indicators of stereovision using the Titmus test for an accurate assessment of stereovision and its correction in children and adolescents. Materials and methods. The study was carried out in 143 patients (286 eyes), including 73 girls (51.0%) and 70 boys (49.9 %). The participants were divided into two groups: the first group involved 6 children with myopia and 11 children with hypermetropia; the second group included 126 people with astigmatism. The second group with astigmatism (252 eyes) included 24 children with myopic astigmatism (19.04 %), 92 children with hypermetropic astigmatism (73.01 %) and 10 people (7.93 %) with mixed astigmatism. All patients of the two groups underwent advanced testing of visual functions that involved a series of the following procedures: visiometry with distance correction, autorefractometry (assessment of spherical refraction and astigmatism using an autorefractometer) before and after cycloplegia, assessment of binocular vision by four-point color test, Worthtest test, (assessment of the nature of vision), heterophoria measurements (cover test), ophthalmoscopy with a dilated pupil (diagnosis of the retina and optic nerve). Results. All 143 patients (286 eyes) were examined by using the Titmus test. The findings obtained showed that gross changes were observed in 14 (5.6 %) patients with astigmatism in the first group and pronounced changes were found in 81 (45.0 %) patients with hypermetropic astigmatism in the second subgroup. In this study, the Titmus test was carried out at medium distances that should be taken into account when assessing stereovision by graded tests. Conclusion. The use of the Titmus test can significantly improve the accuracy of measuring stereovision indicators; it makes screening procedures more comfortable and increases the effectiveness of timely diagnosis of binocular vision disorders. Screening examination of stereovision is promising, as it will significantly improve the quality of screening diagnostics of stereoscopic perception. Overall conclusions show that the Titmus test is reliable and valid, and can be used to improve the accuracy of measuring stereovision, make screening procedures more comfortable and enhance the effectiveness of timely diagnosis of binocular vision disorders. Screening examination of stereospecies is promising as it will significantly improve the quality of eye health monitoring. Prospects for further research imply the development of methods for correcting the most common functional disorders.