Abstract
A simplified retinoscopic technique to screen for refractive errors in children is presented. The technique described was assessed in 98 children and the results correlated with full retinoscopic refractions. All tests were done with cycloplegia. Orthoptists' results using the simple retinoscopy compared well with the full retinoscopic findings of the ophthalmologists, with an overall sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 74%. These results compare favourably with more technical refractive screening methods.
This technique may be suitable as an adjunct to vision screening in pre-school children.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Ingram RM : The problem of screening children for visual defects. Br J Ophthalmol 1977 61: 4–7.
Ingram RM : Refraction as a basis for screening children for squint and amblyopia. Br J Opthalmol 1977 61: 8–15.
Ingram RM : Screening for refractive errors at age one year: a pilot study. Br J Ophthalmol 1979 63: 243–50.
Ingram RM, Walker C, Wilson JM, Arnold PE, Lucas J et al.: A first attempt to prevent amblyopia and squint by spectacle correction of abnormal refractions from age one year. Br J Ophthalmol 1985 69: 851–3.
Ingram RM, Holland WW, Walker C, Wilson JM et al.: Screening for visual defects in pre-school children Br J Ophthalmol 1976 70: 16–21.
Taylor DS : Screening? Trans Ophthalmol Soc UK 1985 104: 637–40.
Tommila V and Tarkkanen A : Incidence of loss of vision in the healthy eye in amblyopia. Br J Ophthalmol 1981 65: 575–7.
Freidman Z, Neumann E, Hyams SW, Peleg P : Ophthalmic screening of 38,000 chlidren, age one to 2 years in Child Welfare Clinics. J Paed Ophthalmol and Strab 1980 17: 261–5.
Mohindra I : A non-cycloplegic refraction technique for infants and young children. J Am Optom Assoc 1977 48: 518–23.
Kaakinen K : A simple method for screening of children with strabismus, anisometropia or ametropia of children by simultaneous photography of the corneal and fundal reflexes. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenhagen) 1979 57: 600–11.
Molteno ACB, Hoare-Nairne J, Parr JC, Simpson A et al.: The Otago Photoscreener, a method for the mass screening of infants to detect squint and refractive errors. Trans Ophthalmol Soc NZ 1983 35: 43–9.
Atkinson J, Braddick OJ, Ayling L, Pimm-Smith E : Isotropic photorefraction: a new method for refractive testing of infants. Doc Ophthalmol Proc Ser 1981 30: 217–23.
Atkinson J, Braddick OJ : Vision screening and photorefraction — the relation of refractive errors to strabismus and amblyopia. Behav Brain Res 1983 10: 71–80.
Atkinson J, Braddick OJ, Durden K, Watson PG et al.: Refractive Screening of 6-9 month olds using photorefraction. Br J Ophthalmol 1984 68: 105–12.
Sjöstrand J, Abrahamsson M, Fabian G, Wennhall O : Photorefraction: a useful tool to detect refractive errors Acta Ophthalmol (Copenhagen) Suppl 1982 157: 46–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Presented at the Annual Congress of the Opthalmological Society of the United Kingdom, April 1987
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Olver, J. Simple retinoscopic screening. Eye 2, 309–313 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1988.58
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1988.58