Acuity Testing Research Articles

Preliminary study on the computer-based optokinetic nystagmus analyzer to detect the visual acuity of preschool children.

The purpose of this study is to examine the viability, precision, and consistency of a computer-based optokinetic nystagmus analyzer (nystagmus meter) for diagnosing eyesight in preschoolers. A total of 59 subjects who could pass the log of minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) visual acuity chart were divided into three groups by age, 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups, and their visual acuity was tested with nystagmus meter. The percentage of children in each age group that could be detected by nystagmus was recorded along with the differences between these groups. The correlation between the test results from the two methods was found for each age group using the correlation coefficient method. Repeated measurements were used to assess the two visual acuity values of the measured nystagmus, and the repeatability of the two measurement techniques for different age groups was compared. The overall measurability of the visual acuity detected by nystagmus was 93.22%, and the measurability of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was 90%, 95%, and 94.74%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the measurability of subjects among all age groups (P = 1.0). The outcomes of the LogMAR visual acuity chart had a negative correlation with the visual acuity measured by the nystagmus meter. The overall correlation coefficient R value was -0.80, and the correlation coefficient R value of the 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old groups was -0.79, -0.76, and -0.87, respectively. The nystagmus meter has good feasibility, accuracy, and stability in visual acuity testing and can be used for visual acuity testing in children.

"Comparison of Age-Appropriate Visual Acuity Tests Based on Preferential Looking Principles in Infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity"

"Comparison of Age-Appropriate Visual Acuity Tests Based on Preferential Looking Principles in Infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity"

Unilateral Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fibers Associated with Ipsilateral Myopia, Amblyopia and Exotropia

This report describes a case of unilateral myelinated retinal nerve fibers associated with ipsilateral myopia, amblyopia and exotropia. A 3-year-old boy presented with the complaint of diminished vision in his right eye. Visual acuity testing with a picture at a distance of 2.5 m revealed 1.5 in the left eye, but right visual acuity was not available. Near visual acuity with dot cards was 0.2 in the right eye and 0.6 in the left eye. The refractive error was -7.25D and +1.50D in the right and left eyes, respectively. Fundus examination revealed extensive myelinated retinal nerve fibers in the right eye, but no abnormal findings in the left eye. The axial length was 24.10 mm and 22.90 mm in the right and left eyes, respectively. Cycloplegic retinoscopy revealed a refractive error of a −7.00D in the right eye and plane in the left eye. Glasses with full optical correction were prescribed, and the patient was evaluated one month later, presenting a best-corrected visual acuity of 0.6 in the right eye and 2.0 in the left eye with a picture at a distance of 2.5 m. Three months later, his visual acuity was 0.7 in the right eye. At this point, amblyopia treatment was started with two hours daily of left eye occlusion. One year following the initial presentation, his visual acuity improved 0.8 in the right eye. The type of fixation, the initial visual acuity, the high myopia and the high anisometropia indicated a most likely bad prognosis. However, the age of diagnosis and wearing status of glasses were advantage for treatment effect in this case. Even though this condition is associated with poor visual prognosis, intensive occlusion therapy should always be attempted, along with the prescription of a cycloplegic refraction, due to unexpected and variable responses to treatment.

Associations between body size and visual impairment of first-year university students in Chongqing: A cross-sectional study.

The relationship between body size and visual impairment (VI) presents a controversial topic in the health sciences. This study aims to evaluate and clarify the potential associations between these 2 variables. We conducted a cross-sectional study on first-year students enrolled in 2022 at the Southwest University of Political Science & Law. The students underwent a series of physical examinations and visual acuity tests. Visual impairment was classified into 3 categories: mild, moderate, or severe. We used logistic regression analysis to examine the association between body size and VI. Our findings indicated a high prevalence of VI among first-year university students; more than 80% of them were affected. In bivariate analysis, height and weight were negatively related to the presence of VI. However, BMI (body mass index) was not related to VI. By adjusting all available confounders, no associations between BMI (OR = 1.002, 95% CI = 0.974-1.032, P = .877), height (OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.967-1.010, P = .298), weight (OR = 0.999, 95% CI = 989-1.009, P = .860), and mild-severe VI were found in females. For males, the ORs were 0.988 (95% CI = 0.955-1.021, P = .459), 0.980 (95% CI = 0.954-1.006, P = .135), and 0.995 (95% CI = 0.985-1.004, P = .285) for BMI, height, and weight, respectively. Among young adults demonstrating high academic performance in high schools, the cessation of physical growth, combined with potential eye strain resulting from overuse, may mitigate any previously observed positive associations between physical status and VI in younger children.

Evaluation of visual plasticity in patients with refractive amblyopia treated using a visual perceptual learning system.

Amblyopia is a neurological deficit in binocular vision that affects 3% of the population and is the result of disruptions in early visual development. In this study, we used a visual perceptual learning system for the short-term treatment of children with ametropic amblyopia and evaluated the clinical efficacy of this system in terms of visual plasticity. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 114 children (228 eyes) with refractive amblyopia, who were aged 6.51 ± 1.51 years. Prior to the treatment, we evaluated all children with amblyopia using the visual information processing test. We determined the type of amblyopic defect according to the type of amblyopia, corrected visual acuity, and advanced visual function test results. Based on the type of defect, each child with amblyopia was given short-term visual perception training for 10 days. Finally, we compared the results of visual acuity and visual information processing tests before and after the treatment. The best-corrected visual acuity of patients was better after 10 days of visual training than that before training (P< 0.05). The perceptual eye position after training improved with statistically significant differences in horizontal and vertical perceptual eye position (both P< 0.05) compared to that before training. The number of amblyopic children without suppression in both eyes was 81 cases (71.1%) after training which was higher than that (65 cases, or 57.0%) before training, with a statistically significant difference (P< 0.05). Binocular fine stereopsis and dynamic stereopsis improved after training with a statistically significant difference (both P< 0.05). In this study, it was found that patients with amblyopia showed visual plasticity. Moreover, continuous visual perceptual learning improved the best-corrected visual acuity and recovered stereopsis in children with refractive amblyopia.

Pain and disability were related to Y-balance test but not with proprioception acuity and single-leg triple-hop test in patients with patellofemoral pain: A cross-sectional study

IntroductionPatellofemoral pain is a common complaint between physically active subjects. Patients with patellofemoral pain present limitations to performing daily activities. Pain could alter proprioceptive acuity and lead to movement impairment. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of pain and disability with proprioception acuity and physical performance in patients with patellofemoral pain. Methods: Forty-eight patients with patellofemoral pain [age 31.15 (5.91) years; 30 (62.50%) males] were recruited. Data collected included pain intensity, pain duration, disability, joint position sense (JPS) test at 20° and 60° of knee flexion, and physical performance tests (Single-Leg Triple-Hop Test and Y- Balance Test). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed to assess the relationship between the variables. ResultsPain intensity was correlated with Y-Balance Test posteromedial component (rs = −0.32, 95%CI = −0.55 to −0.03, p = 0.029) and the composite score (rs = −0.35, 95%CI = −0.58, −0.07, p = 0.015). Pain duration was correlated with Y-Balance Test posterolateral component (rs = −0.23, 95% CI = −0.53 to −0.01, p = 0.047). Disability was correlated with Y-Balance Test posteromedial component (rs = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.62, p = 0.004). Pain and disability were not correlated with JPS and the Single-Leg Triple-Hop Test. ConclusionPain and disability were related to Y-Balance Test but not to proprioceptive acuity and Single-Leg Triple-Hop Test in patients with patellofemoral pain.

Evaluation of retinal structural and functional changes after silicone oil removal in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: a retrospective study

BackgroundTo evaluate retinal structural and functional changes after silicone oil (SO) removal in eyes with macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).MethodsBest-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) testing, microperimetry, and optical coherence tomography angiography were performed in 48 eyes with macula-off RRD before and 3 months after SO removal. The values of healthy contralateral eyes were used as control data. Correlations between retinal vessel density (VD), retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFLT), the interval between retinal detachment and surgery, the duration of SO tamponade, the follow-up time after SO removal, and visual function were analyzed.ResultsSignificant increases in 2˚ fixation rate (FR), 4˚ FR, 2˚ mean retinal sensitivity (MRS), 6˚ MRS, parafoveal superficial capillary plexus VD and RNFLT were observed after SO removal (all P < 0.05). The increase of 2˚ MRS and 6˚ MRS were correlated with the duration of SO tamponade and the follow-up time after SO removal respectively (all P < 0.05). The last 2˚ MRS and 6˚ MRS were correlated with the duration of SO tamponade, the interval between retinal detachment and surgery, and the follow-up time after SO removal (all P < 0.01). The last FR in RRD eyes was close to that of contralateral eyes (P > 0.05).ConclusionRetinal structure and function improved to different degrees after SO removal. Fixation stability and retinal sensitivity increased more than BCVA postoperatively. Retinal sensitivity, which was affected by the interval between retinal detachment and surgery and the duration of SO tamponade, gradually recovered after SO removal.

Artificial intelligence enhanced ophthalmological screening in children: insights from a cohort study in Lubelskie Voivodeship

This study aims to investigate the prevalence of visual impairments, such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, among school-age children (7–9 years) in Lubelskie Voivodeship (Republic of Poland) and apply artificial intelligence (AI) in the detection of severe ocular diseases. A total of 1049 participants (1.7% of the total child population in the region) were examined through a combination of standardized visual acuity tests, autorefraction, and assessment of fundus images by a convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The results from this artificial intelligence (AI) model were juxtaposed with assessments conducted by two experienced ophthalmologists to gauge the model's accuracy. The results demonstrated myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism prevalences of 3.7%, 16.9%, and 7.8%, respectively, with myopia showing a significant age-related increase and hyperopia decreasing with age. The AI model performance was evaluated using the Dice coefficient, reaching 93.3%, indicating that the CNN model was highly accurate. The study underscores the utility of AI in the early detection and diagnosis of severe ocular diseases, providing a foundation for future research to improve paediatric ophthalmic screening and treatment outcomes.

Prevalence of visual impairment and its causes in adults aged 50 years and older: Estimates from the National Eye Surveys in Malaysia.

Population surveys are necessary to measure a community's eye care needs. We conducted simultaneous surveys in two regions in Malaysia in 2023 to estimate the prevalence of blindness and/or visual impairment (VI), identify its main causes, and compare the results with the survey in 2014. The surveys were simultaneously done in Eastern and Sarawak administrative regions using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) technique. It involved a multistage cluster sampling method, each cluster comprising 50 residents aged 50 years and older. The prevalence of blindness and/or visual impairment (blindness, severe, moderate, and early) and its primary cause were determined through a visual acuity test and eye examination with a hand-held ophthalmoscope. Results were compared with the previous survey in 2014. A total of 10,184 subjects were enumerated, and 9,709 were examined (94.5% and 96.2% responses for Eastern and Sarawak, respectively). The prevalence of blindness and severe VI appeared lower than the previous survey. For blindness: Eastern 1.4%, 95%CI (0.9, 1.9) to 0.8%, 95%CI (0.5, 1.1) and Sarawak: 1.6% 95%CI (1.0, 2.1) to 0.6%, 95%CI (0.3, 0.9). For severe VI: Eastern 1.2%, 95%CI (0.8, 1.7) to 0.9%, 95%CI (0.6, 1.1) and Sarawak 1.1% 95%CI (0.6, 1.6) to 0.9%, 95% CI(0.6, 1.2). The main cause of blindness was untreated cataracts: 77.3% (Eastern) and 75.0% (Sarawak). Diabetic retinopathy was the 2nd main cause of blindness for Eastern at 9.1%, but it only caused early to severe VI in Sarawak. The prevalence of blindness and severe VI were lower than in the previous survey. It could have been attributed to a community cataract program implemented soon after the survey in 2014. However, more efforts are needed to address the high percentage of avoidable blindness within both regions.

Visual acuity testing in preschool children: Freiburg acuity test (FrACT) vs LEA symbols test

Aims/Purpose: Cross‐sectional study to compare testability and performance of the Freiburg Visual Acuity Test (FrACT) and LEA Symbols Test (LEA) and to determine test–retest variability of visual acuities (VAs) achieved with the FrACT in preschool children.Methods: Monocular VA of both eyes was measured in 136 preschool children (268 eyes) aged 3.0 to 6.8 years – once with the LEA and twice with a 4‐orientation Landolt C version of the FrACT. The monocular FrACT runs were preceded by a binocular run for explanatory purposes. The test order alternated between subjects. Optotypes were presented either on a computer monitor (FrACT) or on cards (Lighthouse Single Symbol Book; LEA) at a distance of 3 m.Results: The overall testability of children was 70.1% for FrACT (188 of 268 eyes) and 90.3% for LEA (242 of 268 eyes). Testability depended markedly on age, with children aged &lt;4 years at 23.0% (FrACT), 73.0% (LEA); ≥ 4 years: 88.1% (FrACT), 96.9% (LEA). The mean VA difference between FrACT and LEA was 0.11 LogMAR, with LEA reporting better acuity. The difference depended on age, with children aged &lt;4 years exhibiting greater VA differences (0.27 LogMAR) while differences were smaller in children aged ≥4 years (0.09 LogMAR); in an additional adult control group the VA values of LEA and FrACT were even closer with 0.02 LogMAR mean difference. The 95% limits of agreement of test–retest‐variability of VAs in the FrACT were ± 0.29 LogMAR with a bias of 0.017 LogMAR (better acuity for the first test run).Conclusions: The FrACT, as an examiner‐independent tool using international reference Landolt C optotypes, can be reliably used to assess VA in preschool children aged 4 years and older. We confirm that the LEA Symbols Test reports better acuity than tests based on Landolt rings.

Comparison of HOTV optotypes and Lea Symbols: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeTo report the findings of our systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the completion time and testing timeof visual acuity testing using Lea Symbols or HOTV optotypes. MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and CINAHL was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. ResultsThe completion rate for HOTV optotypes and Lea Symbols visual acuity testing was reported for 7,948 patients (average age, 3.59 years; age range, 2-17; 49.96% females). The 3-year-olds’ completion rate of HOTV was 74.09% (47.93%-93.29%), compared with a Lea Symbols completion rate of 77.80% (53.93%-94.57%). The 4-year-olds’ completion rate was 88.20% (63.48%-99.73%) for HOTV and 90.118% (67.42%-99.90%) for Lea Symbols. In 3-year-olds, the mean testing time was 118.33 ± 6.54 seconds for HOTV and 120.33 ± 6.53 seconds for Lea Symbols (P < 0.0001). The difference in testing times in the 4-year-old age group was also statistically significant (86.98 ± 6.12 seconds for HOTV and 94.32 ± 6.57 seconds for Lea symbols) (P < 0.0001). ConclusionsThere was a statistically significant difference in the testing times between the HOTV optotypes and Lea Symbols in both the 3- and 4-year-old age groups; however, the difference of 2-7 seconds on average is unlikely to be clinically significant,. Testing speed and completion rate improve with age for both tests.

Remote assessment of visual acuity during video consultations

Purpose: To assess the reliability and repeatability of visual acuity (VA) measurement obtained remotely via electronic devices using the Optonet Vision Unit (OVU), a web‐based digital eye care software used in eye care practitioner's consultations.Methods: A total of 78 adult participants (20–54 years of age) were recruited, 36 from Glasgow Caledonian University (Scotland, UK) and 42 from the University of Murcia (Spain). Each participant underwent a monocular VA test and retest (TRT, right eye) using three different VA charts, two of them performed in the practitioner's consultation: the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart as the gold‐standard VA test and the OVU computerized VA chart (Optonet Ltd©, UK) designed according to the ETDRS format; and one remote VA measurement obtained in another room using OVU. Prior to the remote VA measurement, each participant set up the video‐consultation version of the OVU software on a screen through directions provided by the examiner from another room via a Zoom call (Zoom Video Communications©, Inc., CA, USA). Small adjustments could be made by the examiner using the information that the electronic device used by the participant transmitted to the online software to which it was connected. Participants were asked to stand about 4 meters from the screen and instructed to read the letters presented. The order of VA acquisition was randomized for each participant. VA scores were recorded in logMAR, and data were analysed with SPSS. The duration of the video consultation was timed from the moment the Zoom call link was sent to the participant until the VA measurement was completed.Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of VA measured was −0.006 ± 0.14 logMAR with the ETDRS chart, −0.07 ± 0.15 logMAR with OVU and –0.05 ± 0.16 logMAR with remote OVU. TRT variability (range comprising 95% differences) showed a good agreement in ETDRS chart (mean difference ± 0.0077 logMAR, 95% CI: −0.014 to 0.06); OVU (mean difference ± 0.0028 logMAR, 95% CI: −0.012 to 0.10); and remote OVU (mean difference ± 0.0024 logMAR, 95% CI: −0.012 to 0.08). The duration of the remote VA assessment was 6.68 ± 2.21 min.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the potential of OVU charts for clinical and teleconsultation uses, which may be useful for VA measurement in remotely based patients.

Femtosecond laser iridorexis during cataract surgery

Introduction: Femtosecond laser‐assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) is currently the most widely used by surgeons, which is an evolution in technology compared to the phacoemulsification technique. However, the femtosecond laser may present complications such as increased intraocular pressure, incomplete fragmentation of the lens, incomplete capsulotomy, capsular tear, subconjunctival haemorrhage, among others. Its main advantages are less loss of endothelial cells, shorter phacoemulsification time, better visual and refractive prognosis, although its cost is higher. The femtosecond laser is the most commonly used technique for cataract surgery. However, it requires previous experience on the part of the surgeon, and in cases with miotic pupils, another approach is recommended.Report of Case: An 82‐year‐old woman underwent cataract surgery. Pre‐operatively, she underwent visual acuity (VA) tests with and without correction, topography, biometry, endothelial count, optical coherence tomography (OCT), intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and fundus examination. The surgery is performed with femtosecond laser with the laser platform Femtosegundovictus® (Bausch+Lomb., Messerschmittstr, Munich, Germany). By chance, iridorexis is produced to subsequently perform the extraction of the crystalline lens with the respective IOL implantation.Discussion: Cataract surgery can present complications, one of which is iris rexis. This condition is rare and usually occurs because the pupils are too small or do not dilate well during cataract surgery, which leads to poorer management and control over the flap.Conclusions: The use of femtosecond laser during cataract surgery is a high‐precision, personalized, safe and effective treatment, although it requires previous training and experience on the part of the surgeon for the success rate to be good.

The prevalence of functional amblyopia and its related risk factors in preschool children in North-Eastern Iran.

Purpose was to determine the prevalence of amblyopia and its related risk factors in children aged 3-6 years in Bojnurd, north-eastern Iran. In this cross-sectional study, from 12,331 children aged 3-6 in Bojnurd, 6600 children participated in annual amblyopic screening program and among them, around 1100 suspected cases were referred for full ophthalmic examinations. Measurement of visual acuity, cycloplegic refraction, subjective refraction, and cover test were performed for all participants. Amblyopia was defined as CDVA of 0.2 LogMar or less in each eye or 2-line difference or more in best-corrected visual acuity between two eyes. The prevalence of amblyopia was estimated 0.95% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.73%-1.2%). There was no relationship between amblyopia with age and genders. Most amblyopic children were hyperopic (61.9%; 95% CI: 48.7-73.8). Strabismus was found in 17.4% of amblyopic patients (95% CI: 9.05%-29.09%). Approximately half of the amblyopic children were anisometropic (55.5%; 95% CI: 42.40%-68.08%). The most common type of amblyopia was anisohyperopic (55.56%; 95% CI: 42.5%-67.5%). The prevalence of bilateral amblyopia was more than unilateral amblyopia. The assessment of data showed that hyperopia, astigmatism, and anisometropia were the most common causes of amblyopia in this study. The prevalence of amblyopia was estimated about 1% in north-eastern Iran. Our study indicated a valuable information around the effect of refractive error and anisometropia on amblyopia which could be helpful in designing a comprehensive vision screening program for preschool children.

Neurochemistry and functional connectivity in the brain of people with Charles Bonnet syndrome.

Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) is a condition in which people with vision loss experience complex visual hallucinations. These complex visual hallucinations may be caused by increased excitability in the visual cortex that are present in some people with vision loss but not others. We aimed to evaluate the association between γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the visual cortex and CBS. We also tested the relationship among visually evoked responses, functional connectivity, and CBS. This is a prospective, case-controlled, cross-sectional observational study. We applied 3-Tesla magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as task-based and resting state (RS) connectivity functional magnetic resonance imaging in six participants with CBS and six controls without CBS. GABA+ was measured in the early visual cortex (EVC) and in the lateral occipital cortex (LOC). Participants also completed visual acuity and cognitive tests, and the North-East Visual Hallucinations Interview. The two groups were well-matched for age, gender, visual acuity and cognitive scores. There was no difference in GABA+ levels between groups in the visual cortex. Most participants showed the expected blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activation to images of objects and the phase-scrambled control. Using a fixed effects analysis, we found that BOLD activation was greater in participants with CBS compared to controls. Analysis of RS connectivity with LOC and EVC showed little difference between groups. A fixed effects analysis showed a correlation between the extent of functional connectivity with LOC and hallucination strength. Overall, our results provide no strong evidence for an association between GABAergic inhibition in the visual cortex and CBS. We only found subtle differences in visual function and connectivity between groups. These findings suggest that the neurochemistry and visual connectivity for people with Charles Bonnet hallucinations are comparable to a sight loss population. Differences between groups may emerge when investigating subtle and transient changes that occur at the time of visual hallucinations.

Investigation of vestibular function in patients with vestibular neuritis

To optimize the diagnostic algorithm for vestibular neuritis based on an assessment of the sensitivity of clinical methods for studying vestibular function in the recovery period of the disease. A comprehensive assessment of the sensitivity of clinical methods for the study of vestibular function in the acute (up to 14 days: at the time of initial treatment, on the 7th and 14th day) and subacute (up to 3 months: on the 28th and 90th day) periods of the disease in 52 patients with upper vestibular neuritis was carried out. The timing of the processes of restoration of vestibular function after a transferred vestibular neuritis is individual: after 14 days, restoration of vestibular function was recorded in 52% (n=27) patients, after 1 month - in 62% (n=32), after 3 months - in 71% (n=37) patients with upper vestibular neuritis. Statocoordination, statokinetic, oculomotor tests under visual control have the highest sensitivity in the acute period of vestibular neuritis, within up to 7 days from the onset of symptoms. In the subacute period of vestibular neuritis, the study of spontaneous nystagmus and nystagmus in the head shaking test retains high sensitivity only when using special tools (Frenzel goggles or videonystagmography). A decrease in the sensitivity of the head rotation test and the dynamic visual acuity test in the subacute period of vestibular neuritis is associated with the processes of central compensation and the formation of a latent saccade. The sensitivity of clinical tests in patients with vestibular neuritis depends on the timing of the examination.

Comparison of vision screening results between trained teachers and general practitioners among elementary school students in rural Bali: A cross-sectional study

Context: Visual impairment is a major healthcare burden worldwide. The vision screening program was supposed to be conducted routinely; however, the shortage of healthcare personnel posed a significant challenge. Aims: This study was conducted to compare the visual acuity examination results of elementary school students when examined by trained teachers as lay screeners and general practitioners (GPs). Settings and Design: This was a cross-sectional study involving 2056 students from 19 elementary schools under one primary healthcare center in Gianyar. Materials and Methods: All students included in the study underwent a basic visual acuity test using the Snellen’s Chart at a distance of 6 m. The test was performed two times, once by teachers and once by GPs. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis was performed using Cohen’s Kappa interrater reliability. Results: The total number of study participants was 2056 students. The mean age of the screened students was 9.43 ± 1.69 years, and most of them were male (52.4%). The estimated number of children needing further eye examination and referred to the ophthalmologist was 253 (12.31%). The agreement between visual acuity examinations conducted by teachers and GP was found to be almost perfect, as indicated by Kappa values of 0.859 for the right eye, 0.856 for the left eye, and 0.878 for both eyes, and these were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: The high agreement value of visual acuity examination between teachers and GP shows the feasibility of involving teachers as lay vision screeners, which can elevate the number of children screened.

Early visual intervention, visual function analysis, and grating visual acuity outcomes in children with congenital Zika syndrome.

This study aimed to assess grating visual acuity and functional vision in children with congenital Zika syndrome. Initial and final grating visual acuity was measured using Teller acuity cards. Cerebral vision impairment standardized tests were used to assess functional vision. Patients were referred to the early visual intervention program for visually disabled children. Neuroimaging was performed. In this study, 10 children were included with an age range of 1-37 months. Eight patients presented with macular atrophic scars. Neuroimaging revealed microcephaly and cerebral abnormalities in all patients. Low vision and cerebral vision impairment characteristics were observed in all children. The final grating visual acuity in this group varied from 3.00 to 0.81 logMAR. The grating visual acuity test revealed low vision in all children with congenital Zika syndrome. Functional vision evaluation revealed cerebral vision impairment characteristics in all patients, who were referred to the early visual intervention program. Visual acuity improved in six children.

The CroMyop study: myopia progression in Croatian children and adolescents-a 15-year retrospective analysis.

Myopia is a major global health issue, especially among children and adolescents. Understanding its traits and progression is vital for proper management and prevention. This study aimed to fill a gap in research by analyzing demographic and refractive data concerning myopia among children and adolescents in Croatia, with the goal of providing insights into myopia prevalence, progression rates, and associated risk factors within the Croatian population. This retrospective study utilized a comprehensive dataset from pediatric ophthalmology clinics at the University Eye Department, University Hospital "Sveti Duh," Zagreb, Croatia. The dataset included electronic medical records spanning from January 2008 to July 2023, encompassing demographic and refractive data. Data analysis focused on individuals aged 4 to 18 years who were diagnosed with primary myopia and/or compound myopic astigmatism. Ophthalmic examinations, including visual acuity tests, cycloplegic refraction, and assessments for eye comorbidities, were conducted by experienced pediatric ophthalmologists. Statistical analysis, including t-tests, survival analysis, and logistic regression, was performed to assess myopia prevalence, progression rates, and associated factors. These analyses were adjusted for covariates such as age, parental myopia, and gender. The study included 895 individuals, 51 premyopes, 813 low myopes, and 31 high myopes. The average age of diagnosis was 11.37 ± 3.59 years for premyopes, 11.18 ± 3.53 years for low myopes, and 11.44 ± 4.35 years for high myopes. The fastest progression occurred in 2021 and 2022, -0.5 ± 0.12 D/y for premyopes and - 0.45 ± 0.1 D/y for low myopes. Premyopic progression to low myopia was associated with age 7-9 years (HR 2.42, 1.53 to 3.21) and both parents being myopic (HR 920.27. 850.16 to 950.53). Low myopic individuals with both myopic parents displayed the fastest 11-24 months after first visit progression rates, -0.69 (-0.52 to -0.87) D/y, while the 7-9 age group demonstrated -0.36 (-0.24 to -0.45) D/y. Low myopes aged 7-9 years with baseline SE between -6 D and -4 D were more strongly associated with ≤ - 0.5 D progression (OR = 2.0, 95% CI -1.00 to 2.39). This study highlights the importance of environmental factors, genetics, and age in addressing myopia progression among Croatian youth, urging further research for effective local intervention strategies.

VISUAL ACUITY ASSESSMENT WITH ATROPINE PENALIZATION VS PARTIAL OCCLUSION THERAPY IN AMBLYOPIA PATIENTS IN SOUTH PUNJAB

A retrospective study was conducted in the Ophthalmology Department of Nishtar Medical Hospital from September 2022 to September 2023 to compare the effectiveness of atropine penalization and occlusion therapy in treating amblyopia in children. The study included 50 children aged 2-9 years with no prior treatment history of amblyopia. The children were divided into two groups: Group A received atropine penalization, while Group B received occlusion therapy. Both groups had a mean age of 5.5 years, and all patients passed the visual acuity tests. Strabismus was high in both groups, with 96% in Group A and 92% in Group B. The treatment duration in Group A was 7.5 months on average, while it was 4.5 months in Group B. Treatment compliance was higher in Group A (96%) compared to Group B (68%). After the treatment, the atropine group had a visual acuity range of 6/6 to 6/60, with a mean visual acuity of 6/10. On the other hand, the occlusion group had a visual acuity range of 6/6 to 6/120, with a mean visual acuity of 6/20. The study concluded that atropine penalization had better patient outcomes and compliance in treating amblyopia in pediatric patients. The study concluded that atropine penalization had better patient outcomes and compliance in treating amblyopia in pediatric patients.