ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: A total of 70 children who attended the paediatric ophthalmology clinic were entered into this prospective study. These children were aged between 3 and 10 years with a mean age of 5.86 years. The children were selected based on the parents willing to participate in the study. The children had their visual acuity tested by their parent/s using a computer with a 15 flat panel display set in a clinic room. The parents used Snellen’s E-chart with a testing distance set at 3 meters. The orthoptist also measured their visual acuity in the normal fashion. The orthoptist assessment included visual acuity assessment using linear Snellen’s chart except when indicated. Children either had their vision assessed first by the orthoptist then parents (39 children) or first by parents and then orthoptist (31 children). All the children apart from 4 (6 eyes out of 140) carried the test successfully. 81% parents found the testing process easy and 77% of the parents found the child co-operation was excellent to good. A total of 24 (17%) amblyopic eyes were detected by the orthoptist testing at the visual acuity level of 6/12 or worse. However, a total of 76 (54%) eyes had a vision of 6/12 or worse by the parents testing. Thus the false referral rate was 37%. All the 24 amblyopic eyes were detected by the parents’ testing. If the parents’ referral rate is reduced to those who had a vision of 6/18 or worse, then the over-referral rate is reduced to 18%. However, in this case the parents missed 3 amblyopic eyes. All eyes (apart from 3) had worse or similar vision on the parent testing compared to that of the orthoptist.
