Novel Virtual Vision Screening Program: Give Kids Sight Day 2020.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Underserved children often lack access to regular vision screenings and ophthalmic care.
• Community outreach programs like Give Kids Sight Day (GKSD) aim to bridge this gap.
• Innovative, low-cost screening methods are crucial for expanding access to eye care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability of a novel, low-technology virtual vision screening protocol for pediatric visual acuity.
• To assess the correlation between virtual screening results and in-person eye examinations.

Main Methods:

• A low-technology virtual vision screening protocol was implemented during the Give Kids Sight Day (GKSD) outreach program.
• 152 children received in-person eye examinations based on virtual screening results.
• Data from virtual screenings were compared with in-person examination data for 151 children.

Main Results:

• A moderate correlation (R = .64) was found between virtual and in-person visual acuity without correction.
• A strong correlation (R = 0.82) was observed between virtual and in-person visual acuity with correction.
• 133 children received glasses prescriptions, and 17 were referred for further ophthalmic evaluation (e.g., strabismus, amblyopia).

Conclusions:

• The virtual visual acuity testing demonstrated good correlation with in-person assessments.
• The virtual screening approach is a valuable tool for future community vision outreach.
• Further research is needed to optimize virtual ophthalmic screening for broader application.