Related Experiment Videos
[Visual screening in children]
O A da Silva1, J Henriques, F Pinto
1Serviço de Oftalmologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa.
Insights
Early visual screening (EVS) using preferential looking and photorefraction is crucial for preventing childhood strabismus and amblyopia. These methods should be implemented at key developmental milestones by ophthalmologists.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric Optometry
- Public Health
Context:
- Early detection of visual impairments in infants and young children is critical.
- Current screening methods vary in effectiveness and accessibility.
- Timely intervention prevents long-term vision problems like strabismus and amblyopia.
Purpose:
- To advocate for the integration of preferential looking (PL) and photorefraction (video-refraction) as primary Early Visual Screening (EVS) methods.
- To establish a recommended schedule for EVS in early childhood (newborn, 6-8 weeks, 6-8 months, 18-24 months).
- To highlight the importance of ophthalmologist-led screenings.
Summary:
- Preferential looking (PL) assesses visual acuity and screens for amblyopia, while photorefraction (video-refraction) screens for refractive errors.
- These advanced techniques are proposed for routine EVS at four key infant and toddler age points.
- Traditional screening methods remain valuable alternatives until PL and video-refraction are widely available.
Impact:
- Implementing these EVS methods can significantly reduce the incidence of strabismus and amblyopia.
- Early detection and management of refractive errors and anterior segment issues can improve school performance.
- Standardized, ophthalmologist-administered EVS protocols enhance pediatric eye care within the National Health Service.
Abstract:
The Early Visual Screening (EVS) before verbal communication and, certainly, before one year old, is essential to prevent strabismus and/or amblyopia. We consider the PREFERENTIAL LOOKING (PL) for visual acuity determination and screening of the amblyopia and the PHOTOREFRACTION (VIDEO-REFRACTION: VPR-1) for refractive screening, adequated methods for Early Visual Screening. We suggest that these two technics are used as EVS methods, four times in childhood (newborn, 6-8 weeks, 6-8 months, 18-24 months) performed by an Ophthalmologist at a Pilot Health Center of the National Health Service. The classic methods of visual screening such as: child's reaction to the eye occlusion, pursuit movements, STYCAR balls and miniature toys, Cover test, Hirschberg test, red fundus reflex, anterior segment examination, each of these used according to the child's age, must be performed by an Ophthalmologist. We think they are a positive alternative until we are able to use the PREFERENTIAL LOOKING and VIDEO-REFRACTION in Early Visual Screening. In the kindergarten and primary school the ASTENOPIC complaints due to hipermetropia, minor astigmatism and convergent deficit as well as chronic inflammation of the anterior segment eyelids and anexus, can be related with poor school performance more than with strabismus or myopia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)