Agreement in non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refraction between a photoscreener and a calibrated autorefractor

INTRODUCTION

Photoscreeners have been shown to provide excellent measurements of the refractive error. However, whether they could be used for assessing cycloplegic refraction has not been examied. This study aimed to evaluate the agreement between cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic measurements obtained using a photoscreener and stationary autorefractor, respectively.

METHODS

This study included all patients undergoing routine ophthalmic examination at the Hygeia Clinic (Poland) from June to July 2022. Each patient underwent non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic refraction assessments using the 2WIN photoscreener (Adaptica SRL, Padova, Italy) and an ARK-1 stationary autorefractor ARK-1 (Nidek Co Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), respectively. Each pair of assessments was conducted in random order, and all values were determined at a vertical distance of 12 mm. The agreement between cycloplegic and non-cycloplegic measurements was assessed using paired t-tests, Bland-Altman and ABCD ellipsoids.

RESULTS

This analysis included 82 patients, of which 52 were female. Their mean age was 34.39 ± 13.13 years. The non-cycloplegic spherical equivalent (SE) did not differ significantly between the 2WIN (- 1.22 ± 2.45) and ARK-1 (- 1.19 ± 2.96) devices (p = 0.580). However, the cycloplegic SE values demonstrated more negative values with the 2WIN device (- 1.13 ± 2.19) than with the ARK-1 device (- 0.75 ± 3.03; p = 0.007). The non-cycloplegic and cycloplegic measurements were strongly correlated between the devices (r = 0.9473 and 0.9411, respectively). However, the correlation between their cycloplegic shifts in SE was low (r = 0.2645). Ellipsoid refraction aligned better non-cycloplegic (ARK-1 = 1.00; 2WIN = 1.74) than with cycloplegic refraction (ARK-1 = 1.43; 2WIN = 1.90).

CONCLUSION

While the cycloplegic measurements obtained with the 2WIN photoscreener were strongly correlated with those obtained with the ARK-1 stationary autorefractor for most of the analyzed parameters, they should not be considered interchangeable.

Pre-Cycloplegic Exam Benefit of Photoscreening and Accommodation-Relaxing Skiascopy

Background

Seeking a quick way to estimate refractions for challenging pediatric patients, we studied two non-contact methods with particular attention to accuracy and level of stress in uncovering cycloplegic hyperopia.

Methods

Newly referred and follow-up pediatric eye patients had timed school bus accommodation-relaxing skiascopy (SBARS) and Plusoptix A12 (Px) photoscreener testing before cyclopentolate 1% confirmatory examinations. The ABCD ellipsoid univariate method based on relative blur and vector components was used to compare dry sphero-cylinder refraction estimates with cycloplegic. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine screening value.

Results

Three compared refractions were attempted in 191 racially diverse children of whom 100 were age 0.2-3.9 years and 91 were 4 to 14 years. Plusoptix failed to yield a result in 21 and an additional 21 were interpreted as an excess sphere. Median spherical equivalent did not differ between Px and SBARS for 149 with Px readings but in hyperopic patients, Plusoptix uncovered 27% less hyperopia. The ellipsoid for SBARS of 0.8 was better than 2.4 for Plusoptix (Mann-Whitney p<0.001). Plusoptix was fastest (3-15 seconds) followed by SBARS (15-30 seconds) compared to 30-45 minutes for cycloplegic exam.

Conclusion

Non-contact quick refractive methods enhanced confirmatory cycloplegic pediatric exam in high-risk pediatric patients.

Dichoptic Rescue for Spectacle-Flip Sabotage of Anisometropic Amblyopia Therapy

Background

To be successful, amblyopia therapeutic techniques must respond when ingenious (shrewd) amblyopic children sabotage treatment effect by discovering ways(1) to alter those therapy aspects they find frustrating.

Methods

Her guardian consented to IRB-approved study outside typical FDA enrollment guidelines for CureSight dichoptic therapy. Acuity (EVA) and stereopsis was by PEDIG protocols.

Results

A 6-year-old rural Alaska native girl in foster care had previously been diagnosed with anisometropic amblyopia and treated with spectacles and patching but had poor compliance with BCVA 0.9-1.0 logMAR. She demonstrated exceptional creativity and hyperactivity but had no other medical issues. Atropine was prescribed in addition to her spectacles +5.50+1.00x90 and +0.50+1.00x90, but the patient discovered the rare "Spectacle Flip" method that sabotaged therapeutic impact. She had EVA enrollment acuities of logMAR 0.9 right and -0.1 left with stereo 400 seconds of arc. After just one month dichoptic therapy 1.5 hours 6 days per week, acuity improved to logMAR 0.7 and -0.1 with stereo up to 140 second of arc. Four months later acuity was 0.6 right and -0.2 left. Stereoacuity improved from 400 to 200 arc seconds.

Conclusion

Even when conventional compliance methods fail, dichoptic therapy with eye-tracking has the novel and unique potential to improve amblyopia treatment compliance with real-time monitored fixation compliance and confirmation of correct spectacle wear.

Clinical Trial Registration

NCT06165705.

Compared Methods for Reducing Stress in ROP Exams; Stake-Holding Examiner Perspective

Purpose

To better understand the sensory impact of retinal exam components typically experienced by infants undergoing various retinopathy of prematurity staging examinations, adults concerned for infant welfare and exam quality underwent similar exams to compare their perceived stress.

Patients and Methods

Adults directly involved with ROP exams and infant stress reduction had cardiac monitoring and concomitant ordinal self symptom-score (1-10 Likert) during 15 components of the exam including lid speculum, various scleral depressors, indirect ophthalmoscopy, goniolens and direct ophthalmoscopy and retinal photography (Phoenix ICON) with or without topical anesthesia.

Results

Nine adults provided impressions and cardiac rhythm gathered supine over 15 minutes. Pain score for topical anesthetic 2 was less than for tropicamide 4. Lid specula numb scored a median 2 level (from 1 to 10) pain but without anesthetic scored 6. The goniolens numb scored 3. Scleral depression numb scored 3-4 but increased to 7 without topical anesthesia. Direct ophthalmoscope scored 3 through the goniolens and the retinal camera scored 4 pain. Brightness with low 350 Lux indirect scored 6-8 numb and 9 brightness without anesthetic. Full bright indirect, direct ophthalmoscope and the retinal camera all had Lux of 3000-4000 and were scored brightness 9, 7 and 10, respectively. Adults had minimal oculocardiac reflex during on-globe retinal examination methods (range 98% to 102%).

Conclusion

Topical anesthesia provided a moderate reduction in pain during on-globe lid-speculum, scleral depressed indirect examination. There was a synergistic augmented sensory response between pain and brightness. Adults did not show the bradycardia typically elicited by retinal examinations in premature infants.

Acuity Comparison Methods via Timed Test-Retest Precision of Matching-Card e-ETDRS Compared to PDI Check in Treated Amblyopes and Superb Normals

Purpose

Existing and emerging visual acuity methods like dynamic and dichoptic presentation, preferential looking and eye tracking promise to afford better and earlier assessment in children with and without amblyopia so we propose methods needed to easily evaluate and compare their metrics.

Subjects and Methods

Patients older than 8 years with treated amblyopia and superb vision (logMAR -0.1 to -0.3) normals performed timed, patched eETDRS with Sloan matching card at 3.00 m and PDI Check dichoptic near rivalry dynamic test to demonstrate test re-Test and compared disparate acuity with intraclass correlation (ICC) and Bland Altman 95% limits of agreement (LOA) to generate a simple method of qualifying acuity test matching.

Results

26 amblyopic patients and 11 superb-vision normals performed eETDRS retest, PDI Check retest and combined ICC of 0.98, 0.60 and 0.27, respectively, and Bland Altman LOA of 0.24, 2.06 and 2.28 logMAR. The time to test one eye with eETDRS had median (interquartile range; IQR) duration of 280 (205 to 346) seconds, while the PDI Check autostereoscopic dichoptic for both eyes only took 39 (30 to 47) seconds. Optimum ICC and LOA for visual acuity comparison should be >0.95 and <0.3 logMAR, whereas "good" ICC and should be 0.75-0.89 ICC and 1.0-1.49 logMAR LOA.

Conclusion

Superb vision subjects (logMAR < -0.1) and treated amblyopic patients confirmed optimum comparable eETDRS, and fair test re-Test PDI Check but suppression on near dichoptic testing confirmed disparity compared to optimized eETDRS distance acuity.

Parent-provided photographs as an outcome measure for childhood chalazia

PURPOSE

To determine whether smartphone photographs of children's eyelids are reliable for diagnosing the presence of chalazia.

METHODS

In this prospective cross-sectional study, 60 participants, 7 months to 16.5 years of age, at four sites were enrolled; all participants had a chalazion measuring at least 2 mm on at least one eyelid based on an in-person clinical examination by a pediatric eye care professional. Smartphone photographs taken by the parent during the office visit were uploaded to the study website. A masked reader assessed each photograph for the presence or absence of chalazia; results were compared with the gold standard clinical examination results. Sensitivity and specificity for the presence of chalazion by eyelid were calculated.

RESULTS

Photographs were available for 240 eyelids; 85 had at least one chalazion and 155 were without a chalazion based on clinical examination. The masked reader correctly classified 68 of 85 eyelids with at least one chalazion and 151 of 155 eyelids without chalazia for a sensitivity of 80% (95% CI, 72%-86%) and a specificity of 97% (95% CI, 94%-99%). Sensitivity improved to 89% for chalazia 5 mm or larger and 94% when superficially located within the eyelid.

CONCLUSIONS

Parental smartphone photographs appear to be useful in assessing chalazia in children as an alternative to in-office follow-up examinations. These photographs may be a valuable outcome measure in future clinical trials of chalazia treatment, especially when assessing larger lesions.

AAPOS uniform guidelines for instrument-based pediatric vision screen validation 2021

BACKGROUND

As instrument-based pediatric vision screening technology has evolved, the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) has developed uniform guidelines (2003, updated 2013) to inform the development of devices that can detect specified target levels of amblyopia risk factors (ARFs) and visually significant refractive error. Clinical experience with the established guidelines has revealed an apparent high level of over-referral for non-amblyopic, symmetric astigmatism, prompting the current revision.

METHODS

The revised guidelines reflect the expert consensus of the AAPOS Vision Screening and Research Committees.

RESULTS

For studies of automated screening devices, AAPOS in 2021 recommends that the gold-standard confirmatory comprehensive examination failure levels include anisometropia >1.25 D and hyperopia >4.0 D. Astigmatism >3.0 D in any meridian and myopia < -3 D should be detected in children <48 months, whereas astigmatism >1.75 D and myopia < -2 D should be detected after 48 months. Any media opacity >1 mm and manifest strabismus of >8^Δ should also be identified. Along with performance in detecting ARFs and refractive error, validation studies should also report screening instrument performance with regard to presence or absence of amblyopia. Instrument receiver operating characteristic curves and Bland-Altman analysis are suggested to improve comparability of validation studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Examination failure criteria have been simplified and the threshold for symmetric astigmatism raised compared to the 2013 guidelines, whereas the threshold for amblyogenic anisometropia has been decreased. After age 4 years, lower magnitudes of symmetric astigmatism and myopia are also targeted despite a low risk of amblyopia, because they can influence school performance and may warrant consideration of myopia prevention therapy.

Pediatric Non-Refractive Vision Screening with EyeSwift, PDI Check and Blinq: Non-Refractive Vision Screening with Two Binocular Video Games and Birefringent Scanning

Background

The purpose of this paper is to validate three recent non-refractive devices that target sensory and/or strabismus risk factors for amblyopia. EyeSwift® with eye tracking and PDI Check on autostereoscopic Nintendo 3DS are video games that estimate acuity, binocularity and color. The Rebion blinq assesses foveation by birefringence.

Methods

Students were consented to be screened by each device as if by a school nurse before confirmatory examination with optimized, refined refraction. Results were compared with correlation and Bland Altman plots while screening ability was compared with 2021 AAPOS Guidelines and the strabismus-amblyopia rubric proposed by David Hunter.

Results

A total of 77 ethnically diverse students, aged 11±4 (4–19) years had a 77% prevalence of 2021 risk factors. Near visual acuity, inter-eye difference and stereopsis correlated significantly (p<0.01) for the EyeSwift® (r² 0.14, 0.06 and 0.45) and PDI Check (r² 0.23, 0.22 and 0.32). The sensitivity/specificity to target 2021-AAPOS: Hunter-rubric for EyeSwift® was 82%/56%: 74%/62%, for PDI Check was 75/64%: 69%/69% and for blinq 75/48%: 82%/39%. Sensitivity/specificity for the seven color-deficient students was 86%/84% for EyeSwift® and 100%/81% for PDI Check. Screening time was 96±19 s for PDI Check and 375±102 s for EyeSwift but less than 25 s for blinq.

Conclusion

Reliable near visual acuity, stereo and color testing were obtained from the two binocular and touch screen devices often with minimal coaching of the student. The blinq rapidly gives an estimate of whether both eyes are steadily fixing, and the ProVersion predicted 100% which eye is deviated or amblyopic. Non-refractive validation metrics were beneficial.

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Ellipsoid Spectacle Comparison of Plusoptix, Retinomax and 2WIN Autorefractors

BACKGROUND

Handheld devices can automatically give an estimate of refraction. The established method for refraction comparison using spherical equivalent (M) and J0, J45 vector transformations by Bland-Altman analysis is too complex for non-eye doctors involved with vision screening and remote vision clinics. Therefore, a simpler comparison technique was developed.

METHODS

Based on the spectacle limit to resolve grade A 1 logMAR, B 3 logMAR and C 6 logMAR blur, J0, J45, and M are combined into the Alaska Blind Child Discovery (ABCD) composite ellipsoid GRADE system. Pediatric eye patients had confirmatory examination after dry refraction with three portable autorefractors: Plusoptix, 2WIN and Retinomax. The refractions were then compared using both Bland-Altman and ABCD composite. Performance to detect AAPOS amblyopia risk factors was also assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 202 children, mean age seven years, 28% high spectacle need and 43% AAPOS 2013 amblyopia risk factors showed high correlation with cycloplegic refraction (intraclass correlation 0.49 to 0.90) for sphere, J0 and J45 spectacle components. Plusoptix had more (10%) inconclusives due to patients out-of-range. The Retinomax was unable to screen some younger children and was less reliable for sphere but gave more precise astigmatism estimates. The proportion of autorefractions expected to give GRADE A/B high-need patients acuity improvement to 20/40 would be 41% for Plusoptix, 39% for 2WIN and 65% for Retinomax. Sensitivity/specificity for amblyopia risk factor detection was 80%/83% for Plusoptix, 72%/88% for 2WIN and 84%/73% for Retinomax.

CONCLUSION

The simplified spectacle comparison resembled Bland-Altman and could assist lay vision screeners and non-eye doctors attempting remote spectacle donation worldwide.

The Oculocardiac Reflex: A Review

BACKGROUND

A typical oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is a moderate trigemino-vagal bradycardia elicited by tension on an extraocular muscle (EOM) during strabismus surgery; however, many other orbital stimuli can elicit cardiac slowing including retinopathy of prematurity examination.

METHODS

World literature related to trigeminovagal and oculocardiac reflex covering over 15,000 patients including 51 randomized clinical trials and case reports are analyzed and reviewed. Under an ongoing observational trial in Alaska, anesthetic, patient and surgical influences on routine strabismus surgery using prospective, uniform EOM tension are compared seeking sufficient sample size to characterize this individually widely variable cardiac response.

RESULTS

With adequate sample size, and emphasizing clinical studies controlling type of EOM, muscle tension amount and duration, anticholinergic and opioid medications, the following augment OCR; rapid-acting opioids and dexmedetomidine while OCR is reduced in older patients, the right eye, less EOM tension, deeper inhaled agents, hypocarbia, anticholinergic medications and orbital block. In re-operations, the former are relatively poor predictors of subsequent OCR.

CONCLUSION

Profound bradycardia can occur in almost 10% of strabismus surgery cases without anticholinergic preventive measures, but reliable prediction of OCR remains elusive. With foreknowledge and careful anesthetic monitoring of the patient before EOM manipulation, residual adverse sequelae from OCR are fortunately very rare. Despite well over a century of experience, the teleology for this occasionally dramatic cardiac response to eye surgery is still not known.

Anesthetic Impacts on the Oculocardiac Reflex: Evidence from a Large, Observational Study

Background

The oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is a sudden vagal bradycardia that can be elicited by traction on an extraocular muscle. Bradycardia is highly variable from case to case necessitating a large sample size to observe small to moderate impact on OCR. While the surgeon’s tissue manipulation has immediate impact on OCR and individual patients may have some proclivity to OCR, we sought to characterize the impact on OCR by the anesthesiologist.

Methods

From 1992 to 2019, during routine, community outpatient general anesthetic strabismus surgery, oculocardiac reflex was prospectively observed utilizing a uniform 10-second, 200 gram square wave tension on each extraocular muscle. Anesthetic parameters were recorded and analyzed with double-cohort design and non-parametric statistics and correlations. We define %OCR as the maximally tension-altered heart rate and a percent of stable pre-tension heart rate.

Results

The median (IQR) confidence intervals OCR for 2527 initial cases was 89% (67% to 97%) without anticholinergic, and 99% (95% to 100%) in 165 patients with anticholinergic. OCR was 81% (62% to 96%) in 1034 with opioids and to 75% (60% to 95%) in 59 with dexmedetomidine and in 189 with IV dexamethasone to 72% (56% to 92%) There was a significant (p<0.01 Kruskal–Wallis) impact on OCR by various opioids, muscle relaxants and inhalational agents. Linear regression showed significant inhibitory impact on OCR by increased inhalational agent depth and by lower exhaled CO₂.

Conclusion

The anesthesiologist can block OCR with sufficient anticholinergics, deeper inhalational agents and robust ventilation, and can augment OCR with opioids, dexmedetomidine and apparently also with dexamethasone.

Clinical Trials Registry

NCT04353960.

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Digital Values for Alpha Acuities

PURPOSE

The lack of consistent data formatting for visual acuity in electronic medical records has led to inefficient data extraction and analysis.

METHODS

Prior acuity efforts were reviewed and analyzed relative to alpha-designated visual acuity. Prominent electronic medical record formatting was reviewed.

RESULTS

A table was generated facilitating the assignment of digital values to alpha acuities for metric and United States designation including centered steady maintained for infants and counting fingers, hand motions, light perception, and no light perception for patients with low vision.

DISCUSSION

Consistent and usable visual acuity data should lead to better research and eventually improve physician burn-out. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2021;58(2):132-135.].

Grading Sphero-Cylinder Spectacle Similarity

BACKGROUND

Portable autorefractors can estimate refractive error in remote locations, but sphero-cylinder comparison and donated-spectacle dispensing are not yet simple.

METHODS

Normal astigmats determined best corrected acuity, then degraded 1 logMAR (Grade A), 3 logMAR (Grade B), and 6 logMAR (Grade C) to determine limits of astigmatism axis and power at these levels. The cylindrical refraction was vector transformed with J0 on the abscissa and J45 on the ordinate.

RESULTS

Ten subjects produced multiple refractions at the interfaces of Grades A, B, and C representing ovals on the J0 and J45 coordinates. When rotated, the vertical axis represented 45° or 135°, the horizontal long axis was 1.6× the short axis. The size of the ovals positively correlated with cylinder power. Given a target refraction, the comparability of a candidate lens was demonstrated on our interactive database yielding a simple A, B, C, or worse grade for cylinder, spherical equivalent, and pupillary diameter.

CONCLUSIONS/RELEVANCE

Inputting a remote autorefraction, pupillary diameter and age as target and a donated spectacle as the candidate with a "B" grade similarity would be expected to attain 20/40 acuity (3 logMAR degrade) if best corrected visual acuity was 20/20. This practical Excel database could facilitate widespread remote lay dispensing of the cylinder as well as spherical spectacles. The grade similarity can also compare refracting tools such as photoscreeners and hand-held autorefractors.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY

NCT04297969.

Oculocardiac Reflex During ROP Exams

Purpose

Reducing physiologic stress including bradycardia during staging eye exams for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is desirable. We observed heart rate change during routine retinopathy of prematurity eye examinations and compared the response with our ongoing study of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) elicited by uniform EOM tension during strabismus surgery.

Patients and Methods

Electrocardiograph was prospectively monitored during ROP exams featuring indirect ophthalmoscopy with Alfonso lid speculum and see-through scleral depressor without topical anesthesia. Clinical data were retrieved from ROP-Check software. OCR was defined as maximally changed heart rate (HR) as a percent of baseline. Strabismus surgery patients under general anesthesia served as controls.

Results

From 10/2017 to 9/2020, 281 infants had ROP exams, and the median OCR was 55.9% of baseline HR (IQR 41.4% to 72.6%), the kurtosis 0.93 and skewness 1.01 representing a drop from HR 169 ± 16 bpm to 102 ± 39 bpm. In comparison, 1493 adult and pediatric strabismus surgery patients had less OCR median bradycardia 87.8% (IQR 72–98%), kurtosis 1.60 and skewness −1.18. ROP %OCR correlated with birth gestational age (%OCR = 2.5 (GA) – 11, r(279)=0.33, p<0.01) and with birthweight (%OCR = 0.02 (BW) + 38, r(279) =0.35, p<0.01). The duration of bradycardia induced by ROP exam averaged 92 ± 34 seconds (range 34–240 seconds).

Conclusion

Bradycardia is common during eye exams in the smallest premature infants with greater degree, more rapid onset and longer duration than OCR during strabismus surgery.

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The Impact of Re-Operation, Relatives and Race on the Oculocardiac Reflex During Strabismus Surgery

Purpose

The oculocardiac reflex (OCR) is a trigeminovagal bradycardia elicited by tension on an extraocular muscle (EOM). Using three decades of observational data, we investigated whether or not individual strabismus patients are prone to oculocardiac reflex.

Patients and Methods

All patients undergoing strabismus surgery from 1992 to 2019 had deliberate 10-second, 200-gram square-wave tension on extraocular rectus muscles with anesthetic variables recorded. OCR was defined as the maximally tension-altered heart rate as a percent of stable baseline heart rate.

Results

OCR was compared in 2532 original cases with 323 re-operations. The 169 cases that used anticholinergics (99% OCR) were excluded from the analysis. The median OCR, a 15% drop, was found to be 85% (95% CI 39%, 102%,; range 5–151%). Factors that showed a significant effect on the OCR were the type of EOM with lateral rectus least (Kruskal–Wallis X²(3)=8, p<0.05), and adults had less OCR compared to the children (X²(2)=105, p<0.01). Factors that showed an augmenting effect on the OCR were peri-operative opioids (X²(6)=62, p<0.01) and Caucasian race (X²(4)=12, p<0.02). Gender and iris color were not found to have an impact on OCR. Re-operations and first-degree relatives did not differ from age-matched controls, but EOM- and opioid-adjusted re-operations correlated with their initial cases (r=0.37).

Conclusion

We confirmed the previously published blocking effect of atropine, augmenting impact of opioids, and an inverse relationship of age on OCR. There was a weak proclivity for individuals to be prone to OCR. We found an impact of race with Caucasians having more OCR.

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Performance of Glow Fixation GoCheck Kids and 2WIN Photoscreeners and Retinomax to Uncover Hyperopia

Background

A low-detail, glowing fixation device was added to GoCheck Kids (GCK) photoscreener in the hope of unmasking hyperopia and amblyopia risk factors (ARF).

Methods

Pediatric eye patients were screened by GCK and 2WIN photoscreeners, and Retinomax autorefractor before being compared to AAPOS ARFs.

Results

Screening was attempted by 131 children who then had school bus accommodation-relaxing skiascopy (SBA-RS) before cycloplegic examination. By 2013 AAPOS uniform guidelines, sensitivity/specificity for GCK was 87%/68%, for 2WIN 87%/71% and for Retinomax 79%/68%. Detection of amblyopia had sensitivity/specificity by GCK of 78%/63%, for 2WIN 79%/65% and for Retinomax 77%/68%. Inconclusive screens were seven for GCK, six for 2WIN and 13 for Retinomax. Mean hyperopia for GCK (+2.49±0.74 D) was similar to cycloplegic refraction (+2.93±0.72 D) and SBA-RS (+2.80±0.82 D) while GCK was slightly more than Retinomax (+1.59±0.93 D, p=0.13) but significantly more than 2WIN (+1.02±0.49 D, p<0.01).

Conclusion

GCK, 2WIN and Retinomax had similar validity detecting uniform amblyopia risk factors and amblyopia itself. The nondetailed glow fixation device allowed GCK to uncover substantial hyperopia while the detailed flashing fixation devices on 2WIN and Retinomax seemed to stimulate accommodation in some hyperopic children.

Clinical Trials Registry

NCT04297969. Data Access: http://www.abcd-vision.org/references/GCK%20glow%202WIN%20deidentify.pdf.

Précis

A glow fixation device on a smart phone photoscreener allowed robust detection of hyperopia.

Performance of Two Photoscreeners Enhanced by Protective Cases

Background

Photoscreeners provide valid, cost-effective early detection of amblyopia risk factors; however, they require proper illumination, flash intensity, pupil dilation and patient cooperation. The Kaleidos case for the 2WIN infrared photoscreener fixes focal distance, decreases luminance and provides electric power. GoCheck Kids (GCK) has developed a flash-concentrating case for the Apple iPhone 7 Plus smartphone to reduce exposure time.

Methods

In remote Burmese and urban Alaskan clinics, Kaleidos and GCK were used before a confirmatory eye examination using 2013 AAPOS uniform guidelines validation, including some older patients. 2WIN refraction was compared to a cycloplegic examination using J0 and J45 vector transformation.

Results

In total, 48 Burmese patients and 114 Alaskan patients aged 8±6 years were evaluated utilizing 2013 amblyopia risk factor guidelines. Kaleidos, with 13 Burmese inconclusives, had a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 65% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 63%. GCK, with only six inconclusives, had a sensitivity of 63%, specificity of 83% and PPV of 73%, with sensitivity improving to 74% with central expert interpretation. Kaleidos closely matched cycloplegic refraction, with intraclass correlations of 0.47 for J0 vector and 0.57 for J45 vector. The protective cases provided clearer images and better pupil dilation than similar devices without cases.

Conclusion

Both devices detected amblyopia risk factors well. GCK gave fewer inconclusive results even with the Asian eyelid configuration, while Kaleidos matched sphere and cylinder refraction. The specialized housing enhanced the performance of the 2WIN and GCK photoscreeners, improving the speed and reliability of amblyopia screening and refraction, even in populous and luminous locations.

Clinical Trials Registry

NCT04068129.

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Direct OPTOS Nerve Size Determination of Prevalent Optic Nerve Hypoplasia in Alaska

Background

Optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH), one of the most common causes of pediatric blindness in developed countries, has been difficult to directly quantify. We sought to measure optic nerve size in Alaskan pediatric patients with optic nerve hypoplasia using ultra-widefield fundus imaging.

Methods

Adult and pediatric patients underwent conventional ultra widefield fundus imaging (OPTOS, Dunfermline, Scotland) with manual image processing to determine optic nerve size validated against refractive error and nystagmus and compared to optical spectral domain tomography. De-identified cases were then compared relative to visual acuity and birth prevalence.

Results

In Alaska’s only pediatric ophthalmology outreach clinic, 108 cases of ONH less than 20 years old were clinically identified with 80 having ultra-widefield analysis. Median horizontal optic nerve diameter for 135 normals was 1.70 (95% C.I. 1.49, 2.14) whereas in patients clinically diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia was 1.23 (95% C.I 0.38, 1.45). Visual acuity (20/y) was related to horizontal optic nerve diameter (x) by y = 187 x^-4.1. Horizontal nerve diameter h could be estimated from vertical nerve diameter v by h = 0.73v + 0.3 even in nystagmus patients. From 108 with ONH, 6 had threshold retinopathy of prematurity, 12 profound nystagmus, 32 legally blind, 6 with septo-optic dysplasia, and 5 with fetal alcohol syndrome. ONH is very prevalent in Alaska occurring at least 8–10 per 10,000 births.

Conclusion

Compared to vertical diameter, horizontal diameter was more distinctive of optic nerve hypoplasia and more perturbed by nystagmus. Both were independent of refractive error. When hand-held, spectral domain OCT is not convenient, ultra-widefield fundus analysis is recommended for direct estimation of optic nerve size in children and adults. Optic nerve hypoplasia is prevalent in Alaskan children.

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Comparative AAPOS Validation of the Birefringent Amblyopia Screener with Isolated Small-Angle Strabismus

BACKGROUND

The Rebion blinq binocular birefringent ocular alignment screener was recently commercially released, but it did not yet have validation by American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS) uniform guidelines.

METHODS

Children and adults from a high-risk eye practice had screening by blinq with validation by AAPOS 2003 guidelines. Then, the blinq was compared to the Adaptica 2WIN with CR corneal reflex strabismus estimation by AAPOS 2003 guidelines plus additional efforts to identify patients with diminished binocularity.

RESULTS

Blinq in 100 patients compared to 2003 AAPOS amblyopia risk factors (ARF) had sensitivity 67%, specificity 75% and PPV of 82%. Both blinq and 2WIN were completed by 87 patients median age 6.5 years. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) for blinq were 75%, 68% and 81% whereas 2WIN had 91%, 68% and 84%. The blinq referred two young patients with isolated, small-angle strabismic amblyopia that 2WIN refractive function passed.

CONCLUSION

Despite its non-refractive design to identify binocular foveation, blinq performed well with refractive and strabismic uniform risk factors and a PPV greater than 80%.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY

NCT04195711.

Two-Year Outcomes of Infants with Stage 2 or Higher Retinopathy of Prematurity: Results from a Large Multicenter Registry

OBJECTIVE

To define the incidence of ophthalmologic morbidities in the first 2 years of life among infants diagnosed with stage 2 or higher retinopathy of prematurity (ROP).

STUDY DESIGN

We prospectively enrolled premature infants with stage 2 or higher ROP. The infants were followed up for 2 years, and we report on data collected from outpatient ophthalmology and primary care visits.

RESULTS

We enrolled 323 infants who met inclusion criteria, of which 112 (35%) received treatment with laser surgery (90) or bevacizumab (22). Two-year follow-up was available for 292 (90%) of the cohort. The most common ophthalmologic conditions at follow-up were hyperopia (35%), astigmatism (30%), strabismus (21.9%), myopia (19.2%), anisometropia (12%), and amblyopia (12%). Severe ophthalmologic morbidities such as retinal detachment and cataracts were rare, but occurred in both treated and untreated infants. Overall, 22.6% of the infants were wearing glasses at 2 years, including 8.5% of the untreated infants.

CONCLUSION

Patients with stage 2 or higher ROP remain at significant risk for ophthalmological morbidity through 2 years of age. Infants with regression of subthreshold ROP who do not require treatment represent an underrecognized population at long-term ophthalmological risk. CLINICALTRIALS.

GOV IDENTIFIER

NCT01559571.

Does Topical Proparacaine Improve Postoperative Comfort After Strabismus Surgery?

Background

Strabismus surgery is often performed on children and adults as a quick-turnover, outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. Ideal methods to reduce post-operative pain and nausea are not yet perfected. We postulated that a simple topical anesthetic drop after surgery might help.

Methods

In a prospective study of oculocardiac reflex (OCR) and strabismus surgery, a cohort of ongoing patients either received proparacaine immediately post-op, or none. Co-variables were Intraoperative opioid and OCR, patient age, type of surgery. Several post-operative recovery outcome variables were prospectively monitored.

Results

Sixty strabismus surgery patients (age 15±22 years) received proparacaine 1% while another 80 (16.5±22 years) received none; both received topical antibiotic-steroid ointment. Pain and nausea (Likert scale) were not impacted by covariables complexity of case, age less than 3.5, OCR >33% drop, intraoperative opioid or neuro-status. Immediate post-op heart rate was lower if OCR >33% and if opioids used. Time until discharge was shorter in younger patients. Proparacaine did not impact outcome variables, except in patients younger than 3.5 years when post-op pain was worse.

Conclusion

Post-op topical anesthetic either produced no difference, or worsened post-op pain and recovery. This prospective study does not support the use of topical anesthetic drop to reduce post-strabismus pain and nausea.

Clinical trials registration

NCT03672435, Strabismus Recovery With Proparacaine and Oculocardiac Reflex (OCRprop).

Performance of the 2WIN Photoscreener With "CR" Strabismus Estimation in High-Risk Patients

PURPOSE

Accurate estimation of refractive error and ocular alignment is critical for identifying amblyopia risk factors. The 2WIN photoscreener (Adaptica) uses a novel infrared-transmitting occluder wand to quickly estimate intermittent deviations.

DESIGN

Reliability analysis.

METHODS

2WIN refraction was compared to dry and cycloplegic retinoscopy and Retinomax. 2WIN "CR" function with wand was compared to cover test.

RESULTS

371 patients aged 6 months to 63 years (median age 6 years) had refraction, and 2WIN yielded high degrees of correlation (Pearson product-moment) on linear regression for spherical equivalent (0.73-0.79), cylinder power (0.78-0.79), J0 vector (0.79-0.83), and J45 vector (0.64-0.67). Similar proportions of 2WIN and Retinomax were within target refraction values for spherical equivalent (70% [216/310] vs 69% [212/310]), cylinder power (94% [154/165] vs 90% [148/165]), and cylinder axis (69% [113/165] vs 71% [118/165]). 2WIN CR higher than 10 prism diopters (PD) correlated with cover test for constant and intermittent deviations (Pearson correlation 0.64-0.71). 2WIN + CR screened for 2003 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus amblyopia risk factors with 68% (965/96) sensitivity and 84% (70/83) specificity in preschool children with 53% (96/180) prescreening probability and 31% (55/177) developmental delays.

CONCLUSION

The 2WIN correlated well with examination and Retinomax. The CR function reliably estimated constant and intermittent strabismus higher than 10 PD.

School bus accommodation-relaxing skiascopy

Objective

Accurate estimation of hyperopia and astigmatism is challenging in delayed children. Conventional skiascopy holds rows of increasing power ± lenses vertically in front of one eye. The school bus accommodation-relaxing skiascopy (SBA-RS) design holds child-friendly, lenses +1 to +10D horizontally so that a higher power fogs the nontested eye-relaxing accommodation without cycloplegia.

Methods

Design: Evaluation of diagnostic test. Subjects: Patients undergoing comprehensive eye examination in a pediatric ophthalmology practice. Cycloplegic (cyclopentolate 1%) retinoscopy was compared to dry SBA-RS and Retinomax (Righton, Japan) during pediatric eye examinations. Outcome measures: correlations, Chi-square and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

Of 470 patients with a median age 6 years, 238 were under the age of 60 months and 110 had developmental delays. For those with cycloplegic spherical equivalent hyperopia over 0.7 D, median (90% CI) value for retinoscopy was +2.63 D (+0.75, +6.88), for SBA-RS was +2.50 D (+0.50, +6.75) and less for 184 with Retinomax +1.88 D (-1.56, +6.13) but similar despite delays. Astigmatic cylinder SBA-RS +1.50 D (+0.25, +4.00) lagged retinoscopy +1.75 D (+0.75,+4.50) but Retinomax was greater +2.00 D (+0.25, +4.64). Cycloplegic refractive components such as spherical equivalent, cylinder, and J0 and J45 power vectors correlated highly and were near unity with SBA-RS and Retinomax with the latter deviating greater. SBA-RS screened for amblyopia risk factors up to 92% sensitive and 94% specific.

Conclusion

Accommodation-relaxing horizontal skiascopy very precisely estimates astigmatism power and axis and only lags cycloplegic refraction by about 0.15D in hyperopic patients fairly independent of neurodevelopmental delay. This technique can quickly estimate refraction even in delayed patients potentially reducing some need for cycloplegia.

Clinical Trials Registry

NCT03668067.

Compared Near-Vision Testing With the Nintendo 3DS PDI Check Game on the Thai-Burma Border

BACKGROUND

A near vision game has been developed for the autostereoscopic screen of the Nintendo 3DS console. Ease of use and time for testing by non-English-speaking patients was not known.

METHODS

Adult and pediatric patients in a remote Burma clinic were compared with US military staff with each performing conventional near acuity, Stereo Fly, and Ishihara color in addition to PDI Check game, so results could be correlated and timed.

RESULTS

Seventeen Burma adults (aged 19-58), 20 Burma children (aged 7-15), and 14 US military staff (aged 21-36) completed the testing. Conventional testing correlated with PDI Check for stereo (P < 0.001), acuity oculo dexter (P < 0.01), acuity oculo sinister (P < 0.01). For visual acuity and stereopsis, the intraclass coefficient was 0.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28-0.72] and 0.62 (95% CI 0.41-0.77) respectively, but with few color deficient cases color was 0.30 (95% CI -0.05 to 0.60). The time in seconds to complete near vision testing with PDI Check (172 ± 27, overall; 198 ± 34, Burma; 99 ± 20, military) was significantly (25% ± 18%) briefer than conventional testing (226 ± 31, overall; 270 ± 34, Burma; 126 ± 20, military). The Burma patients took significantly longer than the military staff (234 ± 25 vs 112 ± 14, P < 0.01). Time for Burma children did not differ from Burma adults for PDI (109 ± 47 vs 217 ± 54, P = 0.42) and for conventional testing (266 ± 51 vs 275 ± 52, P = 0.80).

CONCLUSIONS

Non-English-speaking Burma children and adults were able to reliably perform 3 types of near vision testing with a Nintendo 3DS game 25% quicker than the 2 to 3 minutes for conventional methods. They were slower than experienced US military staff adults.

Performance of a Quick Screening Version of the Nintendo 3DS PDI Check Game in Patients With Ocular Suppression

PURPOSE

To evaluate the ability of the PDI Check (PDI Check LLC, Anchorage, AK) near vision screening game to assess monocular acuity, stereopsis, suppression, and color.

METHODS

Children and adults consented to perform the PDI Check Quick Screening game following conventional near testing of patched Rosenbaum acuity, Titmus Fly stereo, Worth 4-dot, and Ishihara color. Time to complete each test and preferred method were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 77 patients (5 to 63 years old) attempted all tests. There was a positive correlation between the PDI Check and conventional tests for all visual tasks. Using previously determined instrument referral criteria, sensitivity/specificity was determined for right acuity (67%/91%), left acuity (55%/94%), stereopsis (87%/95%), red-green color (80%/99%), and ocular suppression (58%/98%). Screening time was 202 ± 96 versus 99 ± 42 seconds for the PDI Check and the game was preferred by 87%.

CONCLUSIONS

The PDI Check provided a valid assessment of near vision in less than half the time of conventional testing without patches or goggles. This Quick Screening version may help eye technicians and physicians with time efficiency in the frequent task of near visual assessment. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2019;56(4):234-237.].

Calibrated measurement of acuity, color and stereopsis on a Nintendo® 3DS™ game console

Significance: A Nintendo^® 3DS™ game can reliably test monocular near acuity, stereopsis and color without the need for occlusion patches or goggles. Purpose: We developed dynamic, forced-multiple choice games to measure monocular near acuity, color vision and stereopsis on the autostereoscopic barrier screen of the Nintendo 3DS gaming system. Methods: In an institutional review board-approved study, pediatric and adult patients and normal subjects performed routine patched near visual acuity, Ishahara's color test and Stereo Fly tests. Then each subject performed a two-phase orientation and testing game, "PDI Check", on a Nintendo 3DS. Results: Forty-five patients aged 5-60 years completed the routine and Nintendo near tests, resulting in positive, consistent, discriminatory correlation functions. From ROC curves, referral criteria were determined to separate poor from fair-to-normal monocular acuity with 98% sensitivity and 100% specificity, stereoacuity with 80% sensitivity and 97% specificity, and color with 83% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion: The Nintendo 3DS game PDI Check can provide consistent near vision testing via a dynamic, randomized method that does not require goggles for stereo, and does not require patching to assure monocular testing.

The oculocardiac reflex and depth of anesthesia measured by brain wave

Background

The oculocardiac reflex (OCR), bradycardia that occurs during strabismus surgery is a type of trigemino-cardiac reflex (TCR) is blocked by anticholinergics and enhanced by opioids and dexmedetomidine. Two recent studies suggest that deeper inhalational anesthesia monitored by BIS protects against OCR; we wondered if our data correlated similarly.

Methods

In an ongoing, prospective study of OCR/TCR elicited by 10-s, 200 g square-wave traction on extraocular muscles (EOM) from 2009 to 2013, anesthetic depth was estimated in cohorts using either BIS or Narcotrend monitors. The depth of anesthesia was deliberately varied between first and second EOM tested.

Results

From 1992 through 2013, 2833 cases of OCR during strabismus surgery were monitored. Excluding re-operations and cases with anticholinergic, OCR from first EOM traction averaged − 20.2 ± 21.8% (S.D.) with a range from − 95 to + 25% in patients aged 0.2 to 90 (median 6.5) years. We did not find correlation between %OCR and brain wave for 97 patients with BIS monitoring and 91 with Narcotrend. With intra-patient controls between first and second muscle, the difference in brain wave did not correlate with difference in %OCR for BIS (r = 0.0002, 95% C. I -0.0002, 0.002, p = 0.30) or for Narcotrend (r = − 0.001, 95% C. I -0.004, 0.001, p = 0.32). Secondary multi-variable analysis demonstrated significant association on %OCR particularly with BIS monitor, opioid, propofol and nitrous oxide concentration in the second EOM tensioned. Sevoflurane concentration correlated better with BIS monitor in second and third EOM tension. %OCR correlated with younger age (p < 0.01). OCR with rapid onset was more profound than those with gradual onset (difference in means 18, 95% C. I 10, 26%).

Conclusions

We were unable to confirm a direct correlation between brain wave monitor and OCR when using multifactorial anesthetic agents. The discrepency with other studies probably reflects direct impact of inhalational agent concentration and less deliberate quantification of EOM tension. We found no level of BIS or Entropy EEG monitoring that uniformly prevents OCR.

Trial registry

NCT03663413.

Data: http://www.abcd-vision.org/OCR/OCR%20Brainwave%20de-identified.pdf.

The Positive Predictive Value of Smartphone Photoscreening in Pediatric Practices

PURPOSE

To compare smartphone photoscreening with other commercial objective screeners for amblyopia screening for young children.

METHODS

Ten pediatricians in four practices employed Nokia 1020 smartphones (Espoo, Finland) with single-axis Gobiquity software (Scottsdale, AZ) during well-child visits. Outcomes of confirmatory pediatric ophthalmology examinations were prospectively compared using American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus uniform standards.

RESULTS

Five percent of 6,310 in-office screenings were referred: 25% for high anisometropia, 31% for hyperopia, and 15% for myopia. The positive predictive value (PPV) in 217 follow-up examinations was 68% (95% confidence interval: 62% to 74%) by 2013 age-stratified standards and 77% (confidence interval: 71% to 83%) by 2003 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus standards. The follow-up rate was 65%.

CONCLUSIONS

Smartphone photoscreening had PPV comparable with other commercial objective screeners. Simple, valid photoscreeners should help pediatricians achieve widespread compliance with screening guidelines to reduce the burden of pediatric amblyopia vision impairment. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2018;55(6):393-396.].

Evaluation of a smartphone photoscreening app to detect refractive amblyopia risk factors in children aged 1-6 years

Purpose

To determine the specificity and sensitivity of a smartphone app (GoCheckKids [GCK] used as a photoscreening tool on the iPhone 7 to detect refractive amblyopia risk factors in children aged 1–6 years.

Participants and methods

A prospective, multicenter, 10-month evaluation of children aged 1–6 years old who underwent photoscreening with the GCK app to detect amblyopia risk factors. The first acceptable quality photograph of each study subject was evaluated by trained technicians using GCK’s proprietary automated image processing algorithm to analyze for amblyopia risk factors. Trained graders, masked to the cycloplegic clinical data, remotely reviewed photographs taken with the app and compared results to the gold standard pediatric ophthalmology examinations using the 2013 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology & Strabismus amblyopia risk factor guidelines. Primary outcome was the ability of the GCK app to identify amblyopia risk factors compared to the cycloplegic refraction.

Results

There were 287 patient images analyzed. The overall sensitivity and specificity in detecting amblyopia risk factors were 76% and 85%, respectively using manual grading. The overall automated grading results had a sensitivity and sensitivity in detecting amblyopia risk factors of 65% and 83%, respectively.

Conclusion

The GCK smartphone app is a viable photoscreening device for the detection of amblyopia risk factors in children aged 1–6 years.

Intravenous dexmedetomidine augments the oculocardiac reflex

BACKGROUND

We reported that premedication with nasal dexmedetomidine was associated with a more intense oculocardiac reflex (OCR). In this study we performed an intrasubject, intravenous comparison to test our hypothesis that this alpha-adrenergic agonist potentiates the trigemino-vagal reflex.

METHODS

OCR (greatest change heart rate/baseline heart rate) was prospectively monitored with 10-second, square-wave 200 g tension on the inferior rectus or other muscles during strabismus surgery. Between the first and second muscle, intravenous dexmedetomidine 0.5 μg/kg was delivered.

RESULTS

All patients had no anticholinergic agents. A total 842 historic control patients (median age, 5.5 years) with no dexmedetomidine between muscles experienced the first OCR of 75% ± 24% (SD) and the second OCR of 77% ± 22%. The 33 study patients (median age, 5.6 years) experienced the first OCR 84% ± 16% and dexmedetomidine second OCR of 66% ± 25% for a bradycardia augmentation of 18% ± 19% (P < 0.01 [Mann-Whitney]).

CONCLUSIONS

Similar to the effect of fentanyl, intravenous fast-push dexmedetomidine augmented the bradycardia associated with extraocular muscle traction.

Eagle Retinopathy: Bilateral, Symmetric Pitched-Dihedral Pattern Retinopathy

PURPOSE

To share an unusual retinal finding.

DESIGN

Case report.

SUBJECTS

Co-author and progeny.

METHODS

Interval retinal examinations and images compared to asymptomatic baseline decades before. Available progeny also imaged.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Autofluoresce widefield retinal images over time.

RESULTS

Symmetric, asymptomatic, pattern retinal findings resembling tilted flying eagles in did not progress over two years, but were not apparent on retinal color photos from 28 years before.

CONCLUSIONS

Widefield, non-mydriatic imaging may have uncovered a unique retinopathy.

Portable acuity screening for any school: validation of patched HOTV with amblyopic patients and Bangerter normals

Background

We needed to validate and calibrate our portable acuity screening tools so amblyopia could be detected quickly and effectively at school entry.

Methods

Spiral-bound flip cards and download pdf surround HOTV acuity test box with critical lines were combined with a matching card. Amblyopic patients performed critical line, then threshold acuity which was then compared to patched E-ETDRS acuity. 5 normal subjects wore Bangerter foil goggles to simulate blur for comparative validation.

Results

The 31 treated amblyopic eyes showed: logMAR HOTV = 0.97(logMAR E-ETDRS)-0.04 r2 = 0.88. All but two (6%) fell less than 2 lines difference. The five showed logMAR HOTV = 1.09 ((logMAR E-ETDRS) + .15 r2 = 0.63. The critical-line, test box was 98% efficient at screening within one line of 20/40.

Conclusion

These tools reliably detected acuity in treated amblyopic patients and Bangerter blurred normal subjects.

These free and affordable tools provide sensitive screening for amblyopia in children from public, private and home schools. Changing “pass” criteria to 4 out of 5 would improve sensitivity with somewhat slower testing for all students.

Toward Achieving 100% Adherence for Retinopathy of Prematurity Screening Guidelines

PURPOSE

To report on the use of a cloud-based electronic medical record (ROP Check; Glacier Medical Software, Anchorage, AK) designed to provide American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guideline-adherent retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) care through the scheduling and documenting of ROP examinations.

METHODS

Data analysis on 3,155 patients from a de-identified dataset from 13 neonatal intensive care units.

RESULTS

All newborns with a gestational age of 22 to 30 weeks (N = 2,278) were entered with a documented ROP examination. Of those, 98% and 97.4% completed their initial and follow-up examinations, respectively, within AAP guidelines. All but 1 of 145 initial treatments were completed within AAP guidelines after a decision for treatment was made. Of 369 newborns older than 30 weeks' gestational age and with a birth weight of less than 1,500 grams, none progressed to treatment; four patients had stage 2 or 3 ROP. Of 508 newborns with a gestational age of 31 to 32 weeks and a birth weight of more than 1,500 grams who were entered to identify unstable newborns, 34% did not need examinations; of those who were examined, one progressed to treatment. Fourteen percent of patients were observed as outpatients before retinal maturity and 12% missed some or all outpatient appointments. A decision was made to treat at the first examination for 2 (10%) newborns with a gestational age of 22 weeks and 2 (2%) newborns with a gestational age of 23 weeks. Each patient was within the AAP guidelines for initial treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

A computerized system specifically designed with process improvement and error-free delivery of ROP care as a focus can improve adherence to AAP guidelines and achieve superior results. Such a system creates a standardized and measurable safety net for pediatric ophthalmologists, neonatologists, hospitals, and follow-up pediatricians. [J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus. 2017;54(6):356-362.].

A Comparison of Patched HOTV Visual Acuity and Photoscreening

Early detection of significant vision problems in children is a high priority for pediatricians and school nurses. Routine vision screening is a necessary part of that detection and has traditionally involved acuity charts. However, photoscreening in which “red eye” is elicited to show whether each eye is focusing may outperform routine acuity testing in pediatric offices and schools. This study compares portable acuity testing with photoscreening of preschoolers, kindergarteners, and 1st-graders in 21 elementary schools. School nurses performed enhanced patched acuity testing and two types of photoscreening in a portable tent. Nearly 1,700 children were screened during spring semester 2004, and 14% had confirmatory exams by community eye care professionals. The results indicate that one form of photoscreening using a Gateway DV-S20 digital camera is significantly more sensitive to children with significant vision problems, as well as being the most cost effective (85% specificity and only $0.11 per child). This suggests that the adaptation of photoscreening into a routine vision screening protocol would be beneficial for efficiently detecting vision problems that could lead to amblyopia.