Open AccessEvaluation of photoscreener instruments in a childhood population: 1. Otago photoscreener and Dortmans videophotorefractor
Author(s) -
Cooper Carolyn D.,
Bowling Francis G.,
Hall Julie E.,
Colville Deborah J.,
Dortmans Renus J.,
Munch Jesper,
Gole Glen A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1440-1606
pISSN - 0814-9763
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.1996.tb01606.x
Subject(s) - cycloplegia , medicine , optometry , population , screening test , medical screening , pediatrics , ophthalmology , eye disease , refractive error , environmental health , family medicine
Objective: To evaluate two photoscreeners in a childhood population. Study design: Double‐masked study. Subjects and method: One hundred and thirteen children aged between 11 and 44 months with either normal vision or known visual disorders were photoscreened without cycloplegia by the Otago and Dortmans (prototype) photoscreeners. Each child had a full ophthalmological examination either on the day of screening or in the preceeding six months. Photoscreen images were reviewed by an independent observer for indicators of amblyopiogenic risk factors, and compared to the full ophthalmological examination to determine sensitivity and specificity for each instrument. Results: The Otago photoscreener returned a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 82% for the detection of amblyopiogenic risk factors. The Dortmans photoscreener returned a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 90%. Both photoscreeners were portable and easily operated. Conclusion: Children can be screened successfully for amblyopiogenic risk factors with these photoscreening systems. Further evaluation is required to determine specificity in a normal population. This would also provide information on the potential usefulness of photoscreeners in a cost effective childhood vision screening program.