Abstract
Background: :
The Retinomax autorefractor has been used for vision screening of preschool age children. It has been suggested to be used and test school age children but not been validated in this age group.
Purpose: :
To compare the results of Retinomax autorefractor with findings from a comprehensive eye examination using wet retinoscopy for refractive error.
Methods: :
Children 5–12 years old recruited from elementary schools at Los Angeles County were tested with Snellen’s chart and the Retinomax autorefractor and had comprehensive eye examination using retinoscope with dilation. The outcome is the proportion of children with abnormal eye examination as well as the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tools using Retinomax autorefractor alone and in combination with snellen’s chart.
Results: :
Of the 258 children enrolled in the study (Average age= 8.5± 2.1 years; age range, 5–12 years), 67% had abnormal eye examination using retinoscopy with dilation. For the Retinomax, the sensitivity was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 78%–90%), and the specificity was 31% (95% CI, 22%–41%). Simultaneous testing using Snellen’s chart and Retinomax resulted in gain in sensitivity (94%, 95% CI=89, 97), and loss in specificity (28%, 95% CI=19%–38%).
Conclusions: :
The study showed that screening school age children with Retinomax autorefractor could identify most cases with abnormal vision but would be associated with many false–positive results. Simultaneous testing using Snellen’s chart and Retinomax maximize the case finding but with very low specificity.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: biostatistics/epidemiology methodology