Over the past few years there have been considerable advances in our
understanding of the normal development of vision and in our ability to
detect and meaSl1re visual impairment in early childhood. It was
appropriate, therefore, that a workshop, sponsored by the European
Communities, should be held on the 'Detection and Measurement of Visual
Impairment in Pre-verbal Children.' This workshop, which was held at the
Institute of Ophthalmology, London, between 1 and 3 April 1985, brought
together visual physiologists and ophthalmologists who exchanged and
discussed ideas of mutual interest. After an introductory session when
the normal development of vision and the causes of visual impairment
were reviewed, there were sessions devoted to the theoretical aspects of
electrophysiological and psychophysical tests, the measurement of visual
acuity in pre-verbal children, the measurement of other visual
functions, and visual screening of pre-verbal children. This volume
contains the papers presented at the workshop, and transcripts of the
various discl1ssions that took place. It was a measure of the success of
the workshop that participants from several different disciplines were
able to have fruitful discussions and to suggest areas of common
interest where collaborative ventures could usefully be pursued. It is
hoped that this venture will be followed by others where a mul ti-
disciplinary approach will improve both our knowledge of visual handicap
in childhood and our management of this important group of sensorily
impaired children.