Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T01:12:56.407Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Visual acuity of the Gidra in lowland Papua New Guinea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

T. Kawabe ,
R. Ohtsuka ,
T. Inaoka ,
T. Akimichi  and
T. Suzuki
T. Kawabe
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
R. Ohtsuka
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
T. Inaoka
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
T. Akimichi
Affiliation:
National Museum of Ethnology, Osaka, Japan
T. Suzuki
Affiliation:
Department of Human Ecology, University of Tokyo, Japan
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Visual acuity was tested and the anterior portion of the eye inspected among the Gidra in Lowland Papua New Guinea, who depend on hunting for their animal food. The visual acuity of the youths and adults was as high as that of hunters and gatherers; 88% of the males and 81% of the females had an acuity of 1·2 or better. The elders had far lower acuity, correlated with the advance of cataract (or corneal opacity). The senescent visual acuity is discussed in relation to little practice and low productivity of the elders' hunting, and to the Gidra traditional age-grade system.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 17 , Issue 3 , July 1985 , pp. 361 - 370
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Kalmus, H. (1969) Ethnic differences in sensory perception. J. biosoc. Sci. Suppl. 1, 81.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kawabe, T. (1983) Development of hunting and fishing skill among boys of the Gidra in lowland Papua New Guinea. J. hum. Ergol. 12, 65.Google ScholarPubMed
Mann, I. (1957) Report on ophthalmic findings in Warburton Range natives of central Australia. Med. J. Aust. 26, 610.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mittleman, D. (1980) Geometric optics and clinical refraction. In: Principles and Practice of Ophthalmology, pp. 174–221. Edited by Peyman, G. A., Sanders, D. R. and Goldberg., M. F.Saunders, Philadelphia.Google Scholar
Neel, J.V., Salzano, F.M., Junqueira, P.C., Keiter, F. & Maybury-Lewis, D. (1964) Studies on the Xavante Indians of the Brazilian Matto Grosso. Am. J. hum. Genet. 16, 52.Google Scholar
Newell, F.W. (1982) Ophthalmology: Principles and Concepts, 5th edn.Mosby, St Louis.Google Scholar
Ohtsuka, R. (1983) Oriomo Papuans: Ecology of Sago-Eaters in Lowland Papua. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.Google Scholar
Ohtsuka, R., Kawabe, T., Inaoka, T., Akimichi, T. & Suzuki, T. (1985) Inter- and intra-population migration of the Gidra in lowland Papua: a population-ecological analysis. Hum. Biol. 57, (in press).Google ScholarPubMed
Post, R.H. (1962) Population differences in vision acuity a review, with speculative notes on selection relaxation. Eugen. Q. 9, 189.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sinnett, P.F. (1975) The People of Murapin. Monograph Series No. 4. Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research, Goroka, Papua New Guinea.Google Scholar
Suzuki, T., Akimichi, T., Kawabe, T., Inaoka, T. & Ohtsuka, R. (1984) Growth of the Gidra in lowland Papua New Guinea. In: The Growing Child in Family and Society, pp. 77–93. Edited by N., Kobayashi & Brazelton., T. B.University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo.Google Scholar
Vines, A.P. (1970) An Epidemiological Sample Survey of the Highlands, Mainland and Islands Regions of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea. Department of Public Health, Territory of Papua and New Guinea, Port Moresby.Google Scholar