PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - A H Dahlmann-Noor
AU  - K Vrotsou
AU  - V Kostakis
AU  - J Brown
AU  - J Heath
AU  - A Iron
AU  - S McGill
AU  - A J Vivian
TI  - Vision screening in children by Plusoptix Vision Screener compared with gold-standard orthoptic assessment
AID  - 10.1136/bjo.2008.138115
DP  - 2009 Mar 01
TA  - British Journal of Ophthalmology
PG  - 342--345
VI  - 93
IP  - 3
4099  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/3/342.short
4100  - http://bjo.bmj.com/content/93/3/342.full
SO  - Br J Ophthalmol2009 Mar 01; 93
AB  - Background/aims: To evaluate a new autorefractor, the Plusoptix Vision Screener (PVS), as a screening tool to detect risk factors for amblyopia by comparing it with gold-standard orthoptic vision screening in children.Methods: Community-based screening study including 288 children age 4–7 years who were screened with the PVS and by orthoptic assessment (distance acuity, cover test, extraocular movements, 20 PD prism test, Lang stereotest). Follow-up comprehensive eye examination of screening-positive children included manual cycloplegic retinoscopy.Results: Testability was high for both methods. Orthoptic screening identified 36 children with reduced vision and/or factors associated with amblyopia (referral rate 12.5%). The PVS identified 16 children with potential vision problems (referral rate 5.6%), indicating only moderate sensitivity (44%; 95% CI 27.9 to 61.9%), but high specificity (100%; 95% CI 98.5 to 100%) to detect factors associated with amblyopia. The PVS underestimated visually significant refractive errors.Conclusions: Use of the PVS as single screening test in young children may miss a significant number of children with amblyopia or amblyogenic risk factors.