Abstract
Purpose:
To report refractive and visual defect in pre-school population of 3 tipical italian cities (Milan,Bologne,Latina-Rome) with a new device (Automatic retinoscopy 2win ) for fast screening
Methods:
Observational study of 8573 children from 1 to3 year ususing automatic retinoscopy 2win developed on 1 year. Centers of screening: S. Lucia Hospital in Bologna,Centro Studi Ipovisione Milano,Eye Clinic La Sapienza -S. Maria Goretti Latina-.Rome. 10 ophthalmologists, 12 orthoptists.
Results:
8573 children; in 1471 cases (17,2%) we found out a visual anomaly of any kind that was not previously noticed. A visual defect already known was present in 1948 ch.(22,8%).The defects is not related in any way with sex belonging to: 17,3% male,17% female.Refractive defects were present in 1414 out of 8573 ch.(16,5%)and in 2520 out of 17146 eyes examined ( 14, 7%) . 855(10%) ch. were wearing glasses and 378ch. had glasses with a wrong correction ( 44,2% of wearing glasses, 4,4% of total cases). Ocular motility was altered in 817 out of 8573 ch.(9,5%) with higher prevalence of exophoria ( 422 cases, 5,2%) In 1324 cases out of 1471 (90%) ophthalmological control confirmed the suspect of visual defect. False positive were 1147(10%)
Conclusions:
Visual abnormalities previously not shown were 17,2%, particularly high if we consider high social and economical level in the cities analyzed.Parents suspected anomalies in 20% of cases. The Automatic retinoscopy 2Win verification in visual function of the patient allows early analysis of the refractive defect, ideal for babies, children and uncooperative patients. The tool is not limited to the analysis of the refractive defect, but it is very useful as a tool for early diagnosis of phorias, instability of fixation, incorrect position of the face (tilting). These data confirm that ophthalmological control is needed in very young population even if ocular situation seems normal. Parents observations is not enough. 15% of children sent to ophthalmologists did not continue on with necessary controls.
Keywords: 522 eye movements •
677 refractive error development •
709 screening for ambylopia and strabismus