Correlation Between Binocular Vision and Children's Temperament

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between temperament and binocular vision in kindergarten age children. Methods: A total of 32 healthy children aged 5 to 6 participated in the study. Binocular examination, visual-motor integration test, questionnaire about children's health, nutrition, upbringing, amount of sleep, leisure activities, and 3C device use, and temperament assessment battery for children were administered. Results: Binocular examination results indicated that all participants had refractive errors. Eight and 10 children had poor visual acuity, but only one wore corrective lenses. Most children had normal pupillary response, color vision, pursuit, fixation, and saccades, but poor stereoacuity and accommodation. Moreover, cover-uncover test results revealed phoria (eso 9.4%; exo 46.9%) in more than half of the children. Processed foods and gender were the modulating factors for activity level. Modulating factors for the temperament dimension of adaptability were habitual eye and near visual acuity. Those for approach included habitual eye and fruit. Those for quality of mood were processed foods, irritable physique, and sleep. Those for distractibility included myopia, pupil response, and phoria. Finally, that for persistence was processed foods. Conclusion: Some of these modulators may be due to the requirement for attention and adaptability during the learning process. It should be mentioned that binocular vision, especially habitual eye, near visual acuity, phoria (exo and exo), and accommodation may play major roles in children's temperament and influence their learning and social skills.