The Effect of Test Method on Visual Acuity in School Children Aged 4-5

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Optometry
• Vision Science

Background:

• Accurate visual acuity (VA) testing is crucial for early detection of vision impairments in children.
• Current vision screening methods may be time-consuming, impacting efficiency in clinical and educational settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the accuracy and efficiency of a conventional VA testing method with a reversed logMAR presentation order in 4-5-year-old children.
• To determine the most clinically and cost-effective VA testing method for pediatric vision screening.

Main Methods:

• Thirty-four children aged 53-65 months participated.
• Visual acuity was measured using logMAR charts with both conventional and reversed presentation orders.
• Test duration and examiner-rated concentration levels were recorded.

Main Results:

• Both methods yielded comparable visual acuity thresholds (median 0.17 logMAR).
• The reversed method was significantly faster, reducing test duration by a median of 28 seconds.
• No significant difference in participant concentration levels was observed between methods.

Conclusions:

• The reversed logMAR presentation order is a valid and comparable alternative to the conventional method for VA testing in young children.
• The reversed method's increased speed offers potential benefits for optimizing school vision screening programs and clinical workflows.