title: [Visual acuity testing of three- and four-year old nursery school and kindergarten children].
abstract: Visual acuity testing was conducted on 1,531 children in nursery schools and kindergartens in Chita district, for the purpose of determining the rate of successfully performing the test, as well as the visual acuity of those shown to be normal by various ophthalmologic examinations. The rate of successful performance of the visual acuity test increased monthly with increasing age, with maximum changes seen at 4-5 months after the third birthday. The rate of successful performance of the test at the third birthday was 73%, progressively increasing up to 95% in the successive 6 months. The rate at the fourth birthday became almost 100%. Average of visual acuity of 3.0-year old children was 0.55, and for 3.5-year olds was 0.82. The average visual acuity reached 0.88 at 4.0 years of age, and at 4.5 years of age became 0.97. In view of the results obtained, it is concluded that children who could not successfully perform a visual acuity test at 3.0-years of age should be tested again at 3.5-years of age. Preferably the vision screening should be performed during the period between 3.5- and 4.0-years of age, for reliability and efficiency. Accordingly, the screening standards should also be changed with consideration given to visual development of children of this age.
authors.affiliation: Division of Ophthalmology, Aichi Prefectural Center of Health Care.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kanda
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawase
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015351:Vision Screening; D014792:Visual Acuity