Visual acuity following binocular deprivation in the cat.

Threshold visual acuity for three cats which were reared from birth to 4--12 months of age with bilateral lid closure was measured and compared to visual acuity in three cats which had the use of a non-deprived eye. The results indicate that binocular deprivation (BD) results in significant deficits in visual acuity which are proportional to the duration of deprivation. Threshold visual acuities were 3.7 cycles/deg. following 4 months of BD, 3.25 cycles/deg. following 7 months of BD and 2.55 cycles/deg. following 12 months of BD compared to acuities of 6.0, 6.5 and 6.8 cycles/deg9 for cats using a non-deprived eye. All BD cats had recovered from the initial visuomotor deficits, seen in these cats and reported in the literature, following lid-parting. The implication of such deficits in visual acuity on visual discrimination learning in BD cats is discussed.