Purpose
To detect risk factors for amblyopia using a smartphone app.
Methods
The GoCheck Kids photoscreening app (Gobiquity Mobile Health, Inc., Aliso Viejo, CA) was used with an iPhone 5. The app takes standardized flash photographs at a target working distance of 28 inches in 2 modes (portrait and landscape). Refraction was measured using crescent width, pupil diameter, and corneal diameter from the 2 photographs, according to the eccentric photorefraction principle. Strabismus was measured by the position of the corneal reflex relative to the pupil and cornea. Children between the ages of 3 and 5 years referred for eye examination at the Elks Preschool Vision Screening Program were examined on 1 day. Photoscreening was performed in a dimly lit room prior to cycloplegic eye drops. Clinical examination, including cover test and cycloplegic retinoscopic refraction, were then performed. AAPOS referral criteria for refractive error and strabismus were used.
Results
There were 23 subjects examined. Four subjects (17%) were excluded from analysis due to poor photographic quality; 3 were gazing off axis and 1 had small pupils. Of the remaining 19 subjects, 7 were referred by clinical examination; 5 for astigmatism, 1 for myopia, and 1 for exotropia. The gocheckkids photoscreening app correctly referred 6/7 of these subjects (86% sensitivity). One subject with astigmatism was missed. Of the 6 subjects referred by both clinical and gocheckkids criteria, the diagnosis agreed in 5 of the 6, but in one case the clinical examination identified astigmatism while gocheckkids identified exotropia. There were no false positive referrals by gocheckkids (100% specificity).
Conclusions
Smartphone photoscreening could be an effective method of detecting risk factors for amblyopia. Diagnostic accuracy appeared adequate but better quality control is needed through training and automation. Automated quality analysis software is needed for real-time feedback to the operators, particularly with regard to patient fixation and pupil size.
Keywords: 417 amblyopia •
757 visual development: infancy and childhood •
723 strabismus: diagnosis and detection