Comparison of Monocular Versus Binocular Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) Test Results

Background: This study will evaluate differences in binocular versus monocular
performance on the Developmental Eye Movement (DEM) test in a normal adult
population. The DEM is a tool that is used in the assessment and analysis of oculomotor and visual processing abilities, especially in school-aged children. Methods: Using a sample of 20 subjects with optimal vision and good oculomotor function, the DEM test was performed monocularly with each eye three times on day one, then binocularly three times on day two. The vertical subtest time, horizontal subtest time, and calculated ratio of horizontal to vertical times were recorded. Results: The data was analyzed using a paired student t-test. It was found that the monocular versus binocular times for the vertical and horizontal subtests had a statistically significant difference; however there is no statistically significant difference between the ratios of monocular versus binocular.
Conclusion: Binocular performance on the DEM was significantly better in comparison
to monocular. Considering that binocular testing followed monocular we largely attribute
the enhancement of binocular performance to a learning effect.