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Relationship between Geography and Refractive Error from the UCLA Preschool Vision Program
Emily K Tam1, Shiva Mehravaran1, Andrew Young1
1Department of Ophthalmology, Stein Eye Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California , Los Angeles, California, USA.
Insights
Geographic location impacts preschool vision screening outcomes. This study found variations in refractive error prevalence across Los Angeles County districts, highlighting potential environmental influences.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Vision impairment is a significant concern in early childhood.
- Early detection through vision screening programs is crucial for timely intervention.
- The University of California, Los Angeles Preschool Vision Program (UPVP) offers vital screening services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of geographic location on preschool vision screening results.
- To identify potential geographical disparities in refractive error prevalence among preschoolers in Los Angeles County.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of screening data from 62,936 children aged 2.5 to 6 years (academic years 2012-2015).
- Utilized a handheld Nikon Retinomax device for vision screening.
- Defined failure criteria based on spherical and cylindrical refractive error thresholds and inter-ocular differences.
Main Results:
- Higher vision screening failure rates were observed in girls, Latino children, and Spanish-speaking households.
- Significant geographical variance in screening outcomes was noted across five Los Angeles County Supervisory Districts.
- District 1 exhibited the highest failure rate, while District 4 had the lowest.
Conclusions:
- Preliminary evidence suggests geographic factors may contribute to refractive error development in preschoolers.
- Findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to address vision impairment disparities.
- Further research can inform strategies for unmet vision care needs in Los Angeles County.
Purpose:
Using the screening data collected through the University of California, Los Angeles Preschool Vision Program (UPVP) that provides free vision screening to children 2.5 to 6 years of age attending public preschools in five Supervisory Districts in Los Angeles County, this paper explores whether geographic location of where children attended preschool affects the vision screening results.
Methods:
62,936 children were screened using a handheld device (Nikon Retinomax) between academic years 2012 and 2015. The criteria for failing the screening was set to sphere of ≤ -3.25 diopters (D), sphere ≥ +1.75 D, or cylinder of ≥1.50 D in either eye, or inter-ocular difference of >2.00 D in spherical error (>1.50D in case of antimetropia) or ≥1.00 D in cylinder error.
Results:
Higher fail rates were found among girls, Latino race, and those who primarily spoke Spanish at home. In addition, there was a geographical variance in screening outcomes among Supervisory Districts with District 1 having the highest fail rate and District 4 having the lowest fail rate.
Conclusion:
This paper provides preliminary evidence of geographic factors contributing to the development of refractive errors among preschoolers which may be used in future studies to address the unmet needs of children with vision impairments in Los Angeles County.
