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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
A Method to Quantify Visual Information Processing in Children Using Eye Tracking
Published on: July 9, 2016
Factors influencing the detection of visual developmental deficits in 3-year-old kindergarten children
J C Barry1, C Reher, H H König
1Department of Ophthalmology II, University Eye Hospital, Tübingen, Germany. jean-cyriaque.barry@dgn.de
Purpose/Background:
In the 'Tübingen Kindergarten study', an orthoptic screening program for amblyopia in three-year-olds was evaluated. In the retrospective analysis presented here, the association between a child's history--especially participation in the regular preventive care examinations in Germany (U4 to U7)--and the time of detection of target diseases was investigated.
Methods And Subjects:
The parents of three groups of children were interviewed by telephone. Group 1 consisted of 21 children already treated for amblyopia before orthoptic screening; group 2 of 26 children with target conditions newly detected by orthoptic screening; and group 3 of 32 children with newly detected moderate ametropia. The groups were tested for differences in history and utilization/results of the regular preventive care examinations.
Results:
Participation in regular preventive care ranged from 82% to 92%. There were no significant differences between the groups. Nearly 90% of parents from groups 2 and 3 had not heard of amblyopia before orthoptic screening. Only one child had been referred after regular preventive care examinations.
Conclusions:
The regular preventive care examinations contributed little to the detection of amblyopia. The strong position of the pediatrician should be used for the early information of parents.
