Comparison of two visual acuity test versions for different distances in a paediatric population
Reviewed by Lauren Hepworth

The authors present the findings of a study which aimed to determine whether using 2 metre and 4 metre retro-illuminated ETDRS charts are comparable in children. Order of testing was standardised (right eye, left eye, binocular), however different charts were used at the two different distances. The study comprised of 71 children with paediatric-onset multiple sclerosis. Children were able to achieve statistically significantly better visual acuity using the 2-metre chart versus the 4-metre chart, and more so for binocular testing. This difference reduced when assessing eyes affected by optic neuritis. The authors acknowledge this difference is not clinically significant (five letters) but needs to be considered when planning research protocols as the two charts are not directly comparable and need to select one chart. The recommendations from this study are targeted at researchers.

Utilization of visual acuity retroilluminated charts for the assessment of afferent visual system dysfunction in a pediatric neuroimmunology population.
Sguigna PV, McCreary MC, Conger DL, et al.
JOURNAL OF NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY
2021;41:19-23.