A photo-screening project of preverbal children was conducted in 2016 in Portugal consisting of enrolment of two-year-old children and referral of these if having a positive screen to paediatric ophthalmology plus a screen of four-year-old children who missed or had a negative screen at two years or were negative on paediatric ophthalmology review. This study presents the medium-term results. Screening was done with the PlusOptix A09. Of 2697 children referred to screening, 54.3% attended (n=1465). Positive results were found in 18.2% (n=267) and were referred to paediatric ophthalmology. Of these, 161 were seen comprising 62% male, 38% female. Cycloplegic refraction was completed for 89.4% of which 65% were astigmatic, 31.5% hypermetropic and 3.5% myopic. Strabismus was found in 1.9%. Criteria for amblyopia were met by 5.6%. Glasses were given to 31.1% and occlusion to 2.5% with mean follow-up of three years. Visual acuity improved for all given glasses and 94.3% achieved 20/25 or better visual acuity in either eye. Improvement was also noted for all receiving occlusion. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of early vision screening and early treatment when needed.
Medium-term outcomes following photo screening
Reviewed by Fiona Rowe
The impact of early photoscreening on medium-term visual acuity: a population-based study.
CONTRIBUTOR
Fiona Rowe (Prof)
Institute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, UK.
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