Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 4, 2026
Using an Automated Hirschberg Test App to Evaluate Ocular Alignment
Published on: March 24, 2020
Performance of four new photoscreeners on pediatric patients with high risk amblyopia
Insights
Instrument-based photoscreening effectively identifies amblyopia risk factors in young children, including those with autism. Certain devices significantly reduce inconclusive results, aiding early detection in challenging pediatric cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Vision Screening Technology
Background:
- Photoscreening offers benefits for detecting vision impairments in preverbal children.
- Limited comparative data exists for emerging photoscreening devices in young or developmentally challenged populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of four different photoscreening devices in a pediatric eye practice.
- To evaluate device efficacy in young children and those with amblyopia risk factors, including autism.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive eye examination and four photoscreening devices (PlusoptiX, SPOT, iScreen, GoCheckKids) were used on 108 children (ages 1-12).
- Devices were validated against the 2003 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus uniform guidelines.
- The study included children with a high prevalence of amblyopia risk factors (56%) and autism (10%).
Main Results:
- Sensitivity and specificity varied by device, with iScreen (using Delta Center Crescent) achieving 92% sensitivity and 88% specificity.
- GoCheckKids (with Delta Center Crescent) showed 81% sensitivity and 91% specificity.
- The iScreen with Delta Center Crescent interpretation resulted in 0% inconclusive findings, while other devices had higher rates (up to 23%).
Conclusions:
- Current instrument-based screeners reliably detect refractive and strabismic risk factors for amblyopia in high-risk and young children.
- Specific device configurations, like iScreen with Delta Center Crescent, can minimize inconclusive results in challenging pediatric cases.
Purpose:
A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics touts the benefits of photoscreening, especially in preverbal children who cannot yet perform monocular acuity screening. Emerging devices have not been compared in young and developmentally challenged children.
Methods:
Consecutive patients in a pediatric eye practice had a comprehensive eye examination and four photoscreens: PlusoptiX (PlusoptiX, Nuremburg, Germany), SPOT (PediaVision, Lake Mary, FL), iScreen (iScreen, Memphis, TN), and the GoCheckKids application (Gobiquity, Aliso Viejo, CA) for the iPhone 4s (Apple, Cupertino, CA) with Delta Center Crescent interpretation. They were validated according to the 2003 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus uniform guidelines.
Results:
One hundred eight children aged 1 to 12 years participated, with 56% having amblyopia risk factors and 10% having autism. For the four devices, sensitivity, specificity, and inconclusive results were as follows: PlusoptiX (83%, 86%, 23%), SPOT (80%, 85%, 4%), iScreen (75%, 88%, 13%) and iScreen (with Delta Center Crescent) (92%, 88%, 0%), and GoCheckKids (with Delta Center Crescent) (81%, 91%, 3%).
Conclusions:
Even in high risk and young children, current instrument-based screeners can reliably screen for refractive and strabismic risk factors that lead to amblyopia. Some devices can reduce the proportion of inclusive results in challenging cases.
