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Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 2000 46(1):30-35; doi:10.1093/tropej/46.1.30
© 2000 by Oxford University Press
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The night vision threshold test (NVTT): a simple instrument for testing dark adaptation in young children

B DuncanA,Z, L CanfieldB, B BarberA, J GreivenkampC, FO OriokotD and F NaluyindaD

A Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Children's Research Center, College of Medicine, University of Arizona, AZ, USA B Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, and C The College of Optical Sciences, Z Department of Pediatrics, Room 3335, University Medical Centre, 1501 N Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA D Department of Pediatrics and Mwanamugium Nutrition Unit, Makerere Medical School, Kampala, Uganda Corresponding author/address E-mail: bduncan@peds.arizona.edu

It is estimated that 41 per cent of the population aged under 5 in the developing world has an inadequate vitamin A dietary intake resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Half a million children go blind each year as a result of vitamin A deficiency. Thirteen and a half million have night blindness, the first sign of vitamin A deficiency. Unfortunately, there is no simple, sensitive and inexpensive means to identify the child who has marginal levels of vitamin A and thus institute means to prevent their development of severe deficiency. A low cost, simple, easy-to-use instrument designed to detect a young child's ability to adapt to darkness was tested in children admitted to the Mwanamugimu Nutrition Unit at Makerere Medical School in Kampala, Uganda. Despite the severe degree of malnutrition found in these children, Night Vision Threshold Test results and serum retinol levels were related (r=0.41, p<0.05). Further efficacy trials for this instrument are planned at community sites in Nepal.


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N. G. Congdon and K. P. West Jr.
Physiologic Indicators of Vitamin A Status
J. Nutr., September 1, 2002; 132(9): 2889S - 2894.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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